Aging adults experience all sorts of changes over time, including mild cognitive differences compared to when they were younger. Some of these changes indicate mild cognitive impairment which could later turn into Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Recognizing these signs early allows families to get help from Alzheimer’s care services.
Forgetting Important Events
Seniors often worry about being forgetful, but for the most part, it’s not a serious problem. Forgetting important events, appointments, and significant dates could be a different story, however. This type of memory loss can worsen over time, with seniors having more trouble keeping track of important items, remembering recent conversations, and more.
Losing Threads of Conversation or Plot
For some seniors, there are more difficulties than simply remembering recent conversations. One sign that they may be having more trouble is when they aren’t able to keep up with what’s happening in a current conversation. Starting a sentence and struggling to complete it or having trouble participating in a conversation are signs of trouble. Seniors may also have problems keeping track of what’s happening on a television show or movie, even a favorite one.
Difficulty Navigating Familiar Places
Familiar places are often where most people are comfortable and feel secure. But for seniors with mild cognitive impairment, familiar places may start to become more challenging. Seniors may become disoriented or lose track of where they are, regardless of how well they know the location. When this starts happening, seniors should consider having Alzheimer’s care providers with them, just in case they become disoriented.
Worsening Judgment or Impulsivity
Another sign of mild cognitive impairment can be seniors suddenly having difficulty making decisions in a reasonable way. They may show poor judgment or make impulsive, out-of-character decisions that are downright dangerous. These types of decisions are often connected with personal safety or financial decisions.
Apathy
For many seniors, lack of interest or motivation is another sign that there are cognitive changes happening. This apathy can cause seniors to drop hobbies and activities that they used to love engaging in regularly. They may also start to withdraw from people they love, leading to other problems like social isolation.
Irritability
Mood changes and issues are also common for seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Life becomes more frustrating, even for seniors who in the past have had an even, calm temperament. These mood changes can cause friction and big problems with the people that seniors love, leading to isolation and loneliness.
Navigating these challenges is not always easy to do, either for the seniors experiencing the changes or the family caregivers who are helping them. Getting help from Alzheimer’s care providers is a vital way to ensure that families have the support that they need in order to keep seniors safe, healthy, and happy. Having help on hand can also make it easier for families to get an accurate diagnosis for their senior’s mild cognitive impairment, even if that diagnosis means that there are bigger changes coming due to dementia and other cognitive illnesses.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Care in Dallas, TX, please contact the caring staff at Arcy Healthcare today. Call (469) 293-1515
Providing In-Home Healthcare Services in North Texas, including Dallas, Hurst, Grapevine, Keller, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Gainesville, and more.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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