No one wants to think of a senior loved one having Alzheimer’s disease. Yet your loved one’s risk of having cognitive challenges increases with age. Watching out for these signs of Alzheimer’s helps you know when to encourage testing and make a plan for helping your loved one navigate new challenges as they arise.
1. Memory Loss
One of the best-known signs of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. At first, this might just seem like normal forgetfulness. Your loved one might occasionally misplace objects or forget someone’s name. You’ll need to worry about memory loss if your loved one forgets essential things, such as taking medication.
In Florence, senior home care providers benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. Poor Judgment
Seniors with Alzheimer’s may also experience changes in their behavior. For instance, they might fall for scams they wouldn’t have fallen for in the past. Some seniors with Alzheimer’s might also make poor lifestyle choices, such as taking up smoking or drinking excessively when they’ve typically taken better care of their health.
3. Lost Sense of Initiative
Older adults with Alzheimer’s may also lose their motivation to do things that keep them safe and healthy. They may have difficulty starting tasks, such as making a meal. Or they might choose to watch television instead of going to the grocery store. Having someone around to provide motivation to stay active and engaged may help your loved one better handle his or her daily needs.
4. Increasing Difficulty with Daily Tasks
Memory loss, apathy, and general confusion often add up to serious challenges with handling common household tasks. Your loved one’s house might start to appear cluttered, or he or she may have an unkempt physical appearance. While you’ll want to approach this issue with tact, a caregiver could provide assistance that keeps your loved one clean and in a safe living environment.
There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Assisting Hands Home Care is a leading homecare provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
5. Repeating Questions or Stories
Seniors sometimes repeat things, and your loved one might ask you to say something twice if he or she has hearing loss. However, your loved one should typically have some idea of what you’re talking about. Seniors with Alzheimer’s might repeat the exact same questions as if it’s the first time they’ve been asked. Your loved one might also tell you the same story within a few minutes of telling it the first time.
6. Financial Distress
Seniors who can’t remember to pay their bills might suddenly discover their electricity or water is shut off. Or you might notice the bills overflowing on your parent’s desk. Some seniors might also start giving money away despite living on fixed incomes. At this point, a trustworthy person might need to oversee your loved one’s financial needs.
7. Wandering or Getting Lost
This sign of Alzheimer’s disease is the scariest, but it may be preventable when you keep a close watch on your loved one. If you can’t be around your loved one all the time, appointing a caregiver may keep your parent out of harm’s way. Most seniors with Alzheimer’s disease will eventually need overnight care to ensure they don’t wander off while their family members sleep.
The days, weeks, and months following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis may be challenging for both seniors and their families. However, these challenges may be made less stressful with the help of caregivers trained in professional elderly home care. Florence Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one enjoy the golden years while simultaneously managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. To learn about our quality-assured services, give Assisting Hands of Northern Kentucky a call at (859) 444-5699 today.
