Effects of Dementia: What Do You Need to Know?

Elder Care Arlington Heights IL - Effects of Dementia: What Do You Need to Know?

With dementia, there are many side effects of the disease, that you may not be aware of. Learning more about dementia can help you to assist your loved one who has this disease. The more you know about dementia, the more you can be there for your loved one, as well.  

Complex Attention 

One of the effects of dementia is complex attention. This is someone’s ability to keep focused, stay attentive, and be able to multitask. If your loved one isn’t able to do these things anymore, they could have dementia. This is something you should keep a close eye on, as distractibility could be a sign of many things. However, if they have lost their attentive skills and they have other effects of dementia, they might get diagnosed with this disease. 

Executive Functioning 

Executive functioning is someone’s ability to organize, plan, and to make important or even basic decisions. When you think about how your elderly loved one is doing, do you notice any issues with their decision-making skills? Have they become disorganized lately? Are they unable to make plans or stick to plans that are made for them? If you do notice issues with their executive functioning skills, they could have dementia. 

Memory Issues 

If your elderly loved one does have dementia, they might experience memory-related issues. They may be unable to retain information. In addition, they may have issues with their short-term or long-term memory. Memory issues are very common in those who have dementia. If your elderly loved one has an elder care provider, have them look out for memory loss in your loved one, as well.  

Language-Related Issues 

Do you notice that your elderly loved one can’t seem to find the right words to go in a given sentence? Maybe they mix words up that shouldn’t be said in a certain situation. They may not understand some of the things that are being said to them. These issues are common in those who have dementia.  

Perceptual Motor Skill Issues 

These skills are the ability to comprehend what is said and be able to translate things that are said into something meaningful. Is your elderly loved one still able to do this? If they aren’t they could have a dementia diagnosis.  

Social-Cognition 

Is your elderly loved one still able to understand and express their emotions? If they aren’t then they could have dementia. Pay attention to this. You might notice they have a difficult time verbally expressing their emotions. They may get angry or frustrated because of this, too. 

These are some of the effects of dementia that you might notice in your elderly loved one. If these are effects that you notice, have them assessed by a doctor right away. The sooner they get a diagnosis, the sooner they can get the help that they need. 

Sources:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4104432/ 
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/physical-activity-and-motor-ability-associated-better-cognition-older-adults-even-dementia 

 If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Arlington Heights IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

---