Catching Dementia Early

Early detection of any disease or disorder has always proven to be effective in slowing down and even curing those effected. The same goes for dementia in the elderly, as early intervention and diagnosis is critical to slowing down the damage dementia causes to the brain. The early signs of dementia can be difficult to spot and often mistaken for age-related memory loss. Early symptoms also depend on the type of dementia and can vary from person to person.

Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens has put together a list of some warning signs you should be on the lookout for.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is progressive disease that affects an individual’s memory, thinking, and behavior. There are various types of dementia such as Parkinson’s disease with dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Early Onset Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects over 5.7 million people in the U.S. In Palm Beach County, there are more than 55,000 people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Early Symptoms of Dementia

Early symptoms can vary and come infrequently. The most common early symptoms of dementia in seniors include:

• Memory problems such as difficulty remembering things or places
• Poor sleeping habits
• Behavior changes
• Inability to complete tasks

Experiencing any one of these symptoms isn’t an indication that you have dementia, but when coupled together it may be time to speak with a health care professional.

Short-Term Memory Loss

Memory loss is common in everyone and normal to occasionally forget things. Older adults with early signs of dementia tend to forget things frequently or simply don't remember at all. Early memory loss typical occurs only in short-term memory, or information recently learned. This can include important dates such as upcoming birthdays or appointments, frequently forgetting things they used to do themselves, or forgetting misplaced items.

Bad Sleeping Habits

Lack of sleep is linked to various health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, weakened immune system, and now, dementia. Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens reported researchers from the American Academy of Neurology found that people who experience poor sleep have a higher change of developing dementia. Specifically, the study shows that those who experience frequent sleep disturbances develop higher levels of beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid (amyloid plaques), a protein that forms a sticky plaque that kills brain cells and destroy synapses that are responsible for memory and information processing.

Changes in Behavior

There is a common stereotype that seniors are always grumpy or moody, but for those with early dementia this may be a reality. Mood and personality changes is common in dementia. This could include becoming confused, depressed, or anxious. This can be difficult to discern, but changes in personality is very noticeable. You may notice someone who was once shy become more social or someone who was once nice become mean, vice versa.

Dementia Care in Palm Beach Gardens

If you or your loved one are experiencing early signs of dementia, let Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens help. Our in-home care assistance for seniors in Palm Beach Gardens provides comfort and promotes independence through our Custom Care Plan for dementia. These services include:

• Providing daily health reminders.
• Assisting with personal care and the activities of daily living including:
• Dressing
• Bathing/personal hygiene
• Walking
• Nutrition/eating/hydration
• Using the bathroom
• Medication reminders
• Providing transportation to appointments.
• Performing household chores and errands.
• Providing respite care for family caregivers.
• Fall Risk and Wandering Prevention

Right at Home Palm Beach Garden's dementia-trained caregivers can bring the peace of mind and consistency needed to improve quality of life. If you are caring for someone with dementia and need home care assistance, please give our office a call at (561) 282-6106.

About Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens

The Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, LLC, serving the communities of Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, and Wellington. For more information, visit Right at Home Palm Beach, or contact Bruce Gropper at (561) 282-6106 or by email at bruce@best4care.com.