Aging is an event that is full of change and comes with difficulties and obstacles for you and your senior to overcome. Memory loss is one of the main concerns for seniors and their loved ones which will often times raise the question of whether it is age-related or something else.
Age-Related: While it may be upsetting for you and your senior to discover, age-related memory loss is a completely normal part of aging. Common signs of age-related memory loss include:
- Forgetting the current day of the week and remembering at a later time
- Misplacing items on occasion
- Missing an appointment or deadline every now and then
- Inability to recall which word to use in a sentence or during a conversation
Medical Conditions: If your senior is experiencing any abnormal memory loss that you do not believe to be related to normal aging, then it could be one of the following issues and your senior should be discussed their medical provider, as well as the possibility of enrolling your senior in home care:
- Lack of appropriate dietary needs such as key nutrients and vitamins
- A new medication with memory loss as a side effect
- TBI, traumatic brain injury, resulting from a concussion or fall
- Infection that may have made it the brain
Emotion-Related: Aging can be hard on your senior and they may be experiencing some emotional distress from the different challenges they may be facing. Homecare can help alleviate these feelings by providing a routine and a regular visitor to the home. Symptoms of emotional distress along with memory loss may include but may not be limited to:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loneliness
- Lack of appetite
Alzheimer’s Disease: If you have gone through all of the other possibilities with your senior and their medical provider and it is still not enough to explain their symptoms or the severity of their memory loss, you and your senior may be looking at Alzheimer’s Disease. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease include:
- Difficulty carrying on a conversation
- Constantly misplacing or losing items
- Missing important appointments or deadlines several times a month
- Forgetting which month or year they are currently in
If you suspect your senior may be experiencing the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease, you and your senior will need to discuss treatment options and different tricks to address the disease in order to simplify life for you and your senior.
Aging is a normal part of life and can carry with it certain fears and challenges, it is important for you and your senior to know that memory loss is a part of the aging process and to keep the conversation open regarding homecare for your senior as it can assist your senior with medication reminders, transportation, meal preparation, and ambulatory assistance while still allowing your senior their independence.
