If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, you may wonder when it’s time for them to move into memory care communities near Tampa, FL. Many signs can indicate when this type of living situation is necessary. Below are some common signs your loved one needs help with their memory:
Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks
Difficulty completing familiar tasks may be the first sign that your loved one is struggling with Alzheimer’s. They might have problems remembering how to do things they used to be able to complete independently, like picking out their clothes or preparing a meal. This is a red flag if they can remember how to do these tasks but need more time than usual.
If you notice that your loved one has forgotten how to complete basic activities or needs help with daily chores and errands, it’s important for them to receive memory care as soon as possible so that they can maintain their independence for as long as possible.
Problems With Language
Language problems can be the result of both aphasia and apraxia, which are two different types of brain damage. Aphasia is difficulty speaking or writing due to injury to the brain, while apraxia is an inability to perform motor activities requiring planning or sequencing.
If your loved one is having trouble finding the right words when they speak and/or write, this may be a sign of aphasia. They might substitute words like “the” for “it”, “he” for “she”, etc., or forget them altogether (mainly if they are usually used together). They may also use inappropriate words where they should have used appropriate ones (i.e., referring to their mother as their grandmother). If your loved one is having problems understanding and/or producing language due to apraxia, then you will notice that he or she has difficulty performing any tasks which require him/her to plan out what he wants to say before actually saying it: i.e., playing cards with other people who understand how the game works; reading directions on how long it takes something cook in the oven; following instructions given by someone else over phone call (in such cases he’ll likely end up telling them what I just did above!).
Poor Or Decreased Judgment
If you notice your loved one is not making good decisions, this may be a sign of dementia.
A person with dementia may make poor decisions for themselves and others. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may not recognize that their judgments and actions are different from how they used to be, so they continue to make poor choices without realizing it. Poor judgment can cause them to neglect their health, safety or well-being; neglect their home or finances; become confused by new situations; have difficulty doing things they used to do easily (such as driving); be unable to manage money or property; get into trouble by acting inappropriately in public places (like wandering off alone).
Judgment is an important part of decision-making because it helps us understand right and wrong based on our conscience or the rules, we’ve set for ourselves (our moral code). It also enables us to use past experiences as lessons learned to avoid repeating those same mistakes in the future: “I know better now after I’ve made this mistake once before.”
Changes In Mood And Behavior
One of the most common signs of dementia is changes in mood and behavior. It’s normal for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive decline to experience a change in personality over time, but frequent mood swings that come on suddenly can be a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes, these changes are linked to stressors such as new medications or other factors in your loved one’s environment. However, in cases where these environmental factors are not present, it may indicate that it’s time for memory care services.
Conclusion
If you notice these symptoms, you must talk with your loved one and their doctor. The sooner you start planning for memory care needs, the better off everyone will be.
