Although being increasingly forgetful can be extremely frustrating for older adults, minor memory lapses are a normal part of aging and shouldn’t cause seniors and their families to be too worried. On the other hand, more extreme memory issues could signify the early stages of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, so if your senior loved one is experiencing more frequent and/or severe instances of memory loss, take him or her to a doctor. Read on to learn about some situations that might indicate your loved one’s memory loss indicates a more serious problem.
Having Difficulty Following Basic Plans or Using Simple Math
We all make occasional math errors when we balance our bank accounts or perform other simple calculations during our daily lives. However, having difficulty keeping up with paying bills every month or following the steps in a familiar recipe could be a cause for greater concern. If you’re starting to notice your loved one has a difficult time concentrating or takes longer than usual to follow simple directions, make sure he or she is evaluated by a physician.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Forgetting Basic Details
It’s not uncommon for an older adult to sometimes forget a person’s name or fail to remember a scheduled appointment, but memory loss that’s severe enough to interfere with everyday life is often a sign of a more serious cognitive issue. If your parent isn’t able to remember details he or she recently learned or repeatedly requests the same information, it could indicate a more serious problem. If your parent often has to use memory aids, such as Post-it Notes, to remind him or herself about things he or she usually remembers easily, it’s essential for him or her to get assessed by a doctor.
If your loved one has severe memory loss as a result of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, a trained, experienced home caregiver can be a wonderful asset. If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Calgary seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to.
Having Greater Difficulty Accomplishing Simple Tasks
You shouldn’t be too concerned if your parent needs help with minor things such as logging on to the computer or setting the clock on the microwave, but if your loved one has increasing difficulty with completing everyday activities, such as taking medications on time or driving to a familiar store in the neighbourhood, he or she may be experiencing serious memory issues. If your parent is finding it more challenging to accomplish simple daily tasks independently.
Losing Objects or Misplacing Items
It’s not uncommon for an aging adult to misplace items on occasion, but a senior with severe cognitive decline may leave items in odd places and then have difficulty retracing his or her steps to locate them. Older adults with serious memory issues may even accuse family members and other caregivers of stealing things they’ve misplaced themselves.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior care. Calgary families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. For reliable in-home care services, contact us at 403-301-3777 today.