Memory loss is a big, scary topic for most aging adults. Your elderly family member may be concerned every time that she forgets something tiny that it means that she’s finally developing dementia. The good news is that there is normal memory loss related to aging and then there are times for concern.
Normal Memory Issues with Aging
Everyone has memory issues now and again, even your senior. She might forget to pay a bill or lose track of the day of the week. Lots of people of all ages also forget a word they don’t use often or misplace something that they use often. These are typical issues that your senior might find herself facing now and again.
Less Normal Memory Issues
The types of memory issues that she should be more concerned about indicate a bigger problem, like possible dementia. If she’s having trouble making most decisions and loses track of even the season or month of the year, that isn’t a great sign. If she’s losing track of conversations while the conversation is happening, this is also a bad sign. Losing items every single time she uses them means that her brain isn’t able to hold onto that information.
Don’t Wait if Your Senior or You Have Suspicions
The really important thing is that if you and your elderly family member are concerned about her memory at all, definitely open up a conversation with her doctor. Even if her doctor reassures you that this is normal memory loss, it’s important to have addressed the concern at all. It’s always better to ask than to not ask and wonder, or even worse, for the problem to truly be a big one.
Dementia Treatments Have Come a Long Way
The reason it’s so important to ask right away about what’s going on is that if the worst-case scenario is accurate and your senior is dealing with dementia, at least she’s able to start treating it right away. Research and treatments for dementia have really come far in even the past few years. There are treatments that might be able to improve your senior’s situation for years to come.
Whether your elderly family member is facing dementia or not, she might feel better having another set of hands around. Working with elder care providers can give her a chance to hand over some tasks that have gotten more difficult, which frees her up to worry less and deal with less stress.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Big Timber, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
