Dementia is an issue that affects about seven million Americans over the age of 65, and an issue everyone should be on the lookout for if they are around that age or know someone who is. This is not something that should be taken lightly, and while the symptoms of dementia tend to be irreversible, there are some things that you can do to decelerate them and maintain more of your mental functions. You may also have to consider different living arrangements to make life easier for you or the suspected sufferer. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should do if you think that you or someone you know is suffering from dementia.
Look Out for Symptoms
The first thing you should do is look out for a few symptoms and their frequency. It’s perfectly normal for older adults to start forgetting things, and you shouldn’t be too alarmed if they occasionally forget things like missing a monthly payment or forgetting which word to use from time to time.
But if the person starts to misplace things all the time, has strange mood swings or stops taking care of themselves all of a sudden, you may be dealing with something more serious. Other signs that you might be dealing with dementia are if you or the person forgets the name of certain people who are close to them, they start getting lost in places they are familiar with, or if they have serious communication issues.
Complete a Questionnaire
If you notice many of the symptoms of dementia, then one thing you could do is take a quick quiz before you speak with a doctor. This will allow you to make sure that you need observation and start taking steps to protect yourself or the loved one in question. If you’re not certain whether you’re dealing with dementia or not, you can get the answers here.
Consult a Doctor
Once you’ve taken a questionnaire and confirmed that you may have dementia, you will have to see a doctor. They’ll be able to further check into the situation and see if you indeed have the condition. You could be suffering from all sorts of other issues like Alzheimer’s for instance, or the condition might be a bit milder than what you expected. Only a doctor will be able to get to the bottom of the issue and recommend the proper course of action.
Consider Senior Living with Memory Care
Now would also be a good time to start looking at senior living facilities that provide memory care. Even if the symptoms are minor, you never know what could happen, and being proactive will prevent someone from getting hurt. Start looking at options today and speak about senior living with your doctor during your visit.
Suffering or seeing someone suffer from dementia is never easy, but if you act early, you can reduce the risk of something very bad happening. You’ll also be able to take the steps necessary to slow down the damage and live a normal life for as long as you can.
