Subtle Signs of Dementia
After visiting her mother during the holidays, Kimberly has now been visiting New York City every other weekend. The five-hour drive from Maryland to New York was long, but she needed to make sure her mother was safe and getting the help she needed.
As she visits, Kimberly starts to see her mother losing weight quicker than she expected. Food and medication in the apartment either goes missing or are left untouched. There also doesn’t seem to be any schedule or plans that Georgia follows as she seemingly grows less interested in her past hobbies.
Even more nerve-wracking was Georgia’s apparent disregard for her appointments, missing multiple in one week when Kimberly needed answers. Georgia would also become hostile when confronted with questions about why she hadn’t gone—uncommon for the usually kind and quiet mother Kimberly knew and loved.
To help, Kimberly ends up staying for a few weekdays to help get her mother to and front appointments.
As you become more aware of your loved one’s condition, here are some subtle signs of dementia—signs that take knowing a person to recognize the changes happening.
Subtle Signs
Some signs of dementia or other memory problems may not be so easy to spot. These symptoms may be hidden by a loved one’s own actions as they continue to progress, while others must be investigated to find the full extent. Always look at the whole person when seeing these subtle signs, as they could lead to other issues as well.
Weight Changes and Food Problems
For some, dementia can look like the inability to remember mealtimes or keep food past expiration dates, specifically fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Forgetting to eat can cause a person to lose weight rapidly, often shedding pounds in a few months. They may not notice food, or may try to eat things that are not food such as artificial or decorative fruits.
In some cases, persons with dementia may be unable to stop eating. When this occurs, they’ll lack the ability to feel full or use food as a way to comfort themselves. This will cause them to constantly search out snacks and meals, but they may neglect drinking.
This can also include instances of pica, where people will eat inedible objects, such as paint. In the worst case scenario, persons with dementia may even ingest toxic chemicals from cleaners if the bottle looks like a drink. If a loved one is gaining or losing weight rapidly, always check with medical professionals to get the whole story.
Forgetting Medications and Appointments
Some loved ones will already be on medications by the time that dementia becomes a problem. In these cases, it’s important to check their medication to make sure they are taking the correct dosage. Some persons with dementia may forget to take their meds, while others may double, triple, or even quadruple their intended dose, causing larger issues.
To check for this, visit a loved one you assume may be having cognitive troubles multiple times a week or month. When doing this, check to see if their medications are being dosed out correctly. Similarly, if they have been forgetting to go to the doctor’s to get a refill they need, it may be a sign that they are forgetting more than just their treatments.
Forgetting Bills, Groceries, and More
While forgetting medications can cause medical emergencies, forgetting other important personal chores is another issue that can cause long-term problems if left unnoticed. A loved one could forget to pay for hot water, gas, and electricity—which can become a major problem in the colder months. They may not be purchasing groceries regularly, or buying multiple orders in one day.
Similar to personal hygiene, they may also forget to do laundry, clean up their home, and/or manage other household duties like cleaning air filters. These are all issues that come up after the person has experienced dementia for an extended amount of time, making their home a dangerous place for them to live comfortably and safely.
Mood Swings, Aggression, and Depression
These problems can cause stress to increase, making your loved one more hostile or emotional. If your loved one always had a clean house, only for it to be messy suddenly and they can’t understand why, they’ll become more stressed and emotionally vulnerable. For some, this can mean becoming more aggressive and angry, while others may be prone to isolation and depression.
Like with any of these symptoms, this may come up quickly or over time. The most important part to focus on is your loved ones mental health and emotional state. Mood swings or other mental health issues that could negatively impact your loved one, you, and extended family if they are removed from a familiar environment and placed into a “new,” confusing one.
Apathy
Another emotional sign of dementia or a similar issue may be apathy. This can come in many forms, such as not caring about themselves, their loved ones, their hobbies, or their home. Overall, apathy will cause a loved one to lose their “spark,” making them emotionally hardened.
While these can come slowly or quickly, it’s always important to check on other aspects of a loved one’s life if they begin to show apathy. If they were heavily involved in clubs, family events, or charity work and suddenly stop, it may be a sign of dementia or a similar issue.
Apathy may also come from a loved one not fully recognizing external needs or wants. As dementia progresses, it affects the brain and makes a person more focused on their own survival, especially if they are in a dangerous or unregulated environment. Small stressors that normally would be categorized and handled internally become an outwards battle as a person suffering from dementia may not be able to organize their thoughts into a proper “plan of action.” Instead, their emotions may become unregulated and outwardly expressed.
Cognitive Decline
One of the last and hardest to notice is an overall cognitive decline. While this can be shown in speech problems and mental health worries, it can also be a general lack of past skills. For example, if your father was an accountant and suddenly can’t do basic math, this could be a sign of cognitive decline.
While cognitive decline is common in seniors, if it comes on quickly without warning, it could be a symptom of dementia or a related illness. A senior’s mental state should never drop so quickly that they cannot function on their own or begin making major, life-threatening actions.
In Conclusion
As your loved one ages, the people closest to them are usually the first ones that will notice symptoms of dementia. While visiting a senior family member, always be on the lookout for possible signs that could require further attention. While dementia is something no family wants to contront, early diagnosis can help ease your loved one’s transition.
If you are in the Maryland area and would like some guidance, please contact Christina Green at CGreen@Inspired-Joy.com.
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