10 Warning Signs of Dementia!
Sep 09, 2013
Dementia is the umbrella term for the variety of conditions that can cause the brain to fail.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes dementia as:
“…a syndrome due to disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive
nature, of which there is impairment of multiple higher cortical functions…”
Home Instead Senior Care have highlighted 10 Warning Signs of Dementia. These warning Signs are here to help Caregivers identify if their loved ones has Alzheimer's or other Dementia.
10 Warning Signs
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
The person’s short term memory is usually affected so one ofthe most common signs is memory loss, especially forgetting recentlylearned information such as names or recent events.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability todevelop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
3. Difficulty in completing familiar tasks at home, at workor at leisure
People sometimes may have trouble driving to a familiarlocation,managing a budget at work or remembering rules of afavourite game.
4. Confusion with time or place
Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. Aperson with dementia may become lost even in a familiar environment.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatialrelationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign. They maynot realise they are the person in the mirror, for instance.
6. Comprehension -New problems with words in speaking orwriting
There is trouble following or joining a conversation as theperson may have difficulty understanding what it is you are trying toexplain to them or what you are asking of them.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Placing things in random unusual places. Sometimes theperson may accuse others of stealing the items.
8. Decreased or poor judgement
Experiencing changes in judgement or decision making. Forexample, a person with dementia may leave doors to an empty houseunlocked.
9. Withdrawl from work or social interaction
Some people with a dementia may remove themselves fromhobbies,social activities, work projects or leisure pursuits.
10. Changes in mood and personality
Very low stress levels can occur in someone with dementiaand they may therefore overreact to seemingly ordinarysituations and misinterpret situations. Some can become confused,suspicious, depressed, fearful, anxious, they may be easily upset athome, at work or with friends or in places where they are out of theircomfort zone. If your loved one is experiencing difficulty in any of theabove areas and you are concerned please contact a healthcare professionalimmediately.
If your loved one is experiencing difficulty in any of the above areas and you are concerned please contact a healthcare professional immediately.
