Skip to main content

Should Seniors Have an Annual Memory Check?

According to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) around 7 percent of people who are in their early 60s have mild cognitive impairment. That number goes up to 38 percent in people aged 85 and older. That’s why the AAN is urging medical providers to conduct a memory check as part of all older adults’ annual checkups. By evaluating memory every year, doctors can not only identify when a problem exists, but also watch for progression of memory and thinking skills into dementia. If your older family member has not had a memory check recently, you may wish to talk to their doctor about conducting one. In the meantime, if you’re concerned about whether their existing memory issues indicate the presence of dementia, it can be helpful to know what the early signs of dementia are. Below are some early signs that may indicate dementia in your older family member.

Forgetfulness

Some degree of forgetfulness is normal with aging. For example, you might notice the older adult sometimes forgets a name or that they have an appointment scheduled, but then they remember it later. However, if they consistently forget important dates or events, ask the same questions over and over, or need to rely on memory aids, like notes, they may have dementia.

Poor Decisions

Everyone makes a bad decision once in a while that they regret later. However, dementia can cause older adults to frequently make poor judgements. They might fall easily for telemarketing scams or make expensive and unnecessary purchases they cannot afford.

Misplacing Items

Losing items isn’t necessarily a sign of dementia. After all, even young adults occasionally lose track of their keys or other items. However, if your aging relative is frequently losing items and they are later found in odd places, there could be a problem. Also, people with dementia may misplace items and accuse other people of stealing them.

Behavior or Mood Changes

Lots of older adults fall into routines that one might describe as “set in their ways.” They may even get a touch angry if someone tries to change the routine. That’s normal. However, someone with dementia might experience mood changes, such as a normally docile and happy person getting angry or anxious easily.

If you notice signs of dementia in your loved one, they should see a doctor for a full evaluation. If they are diagnosed with dementia or even mild cognitive impairment, a senior care provider can assist them to continue living in their home safely and comfortably. A senior care provider can help the older adult to remember appointments and to take their medications. Senior care providers can also assist with tasks that become difficult because of cognitive problems, such as responding to mail and paying bills.

Sources
https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20190923/give-seniors-a-memory-check-at-annual-checkups
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/do-memory-problems-always-mean-alzheimers-disease

When you are in need of care for a senior loved one, consider home care provided by Golden Heart Senior Care. We have offices nationwide. For more information, call us today at (800) 601-2792.

The post Should Seniors Have an Annual Memory Check? appeared first on Golden Heart Senior Care.



from Golden Heart Senior Care https://ift.tt/2ML8nhx
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per...
Post a Comment
Read more