Could it Be Dementia?

​Home Care Assistance Chicago IL - Could it Be Dementia?

​It’s scary to think about the possibility that your senior could be developing dementia. It’s even more frightening if there’s a family history or your senior has other risk factors. But it’s vital that you and your elderly family member and their home care assistance provider tackle the situation with facts instead of worries.  

Your Senior Is Having Trouble Communicating 

Communication issues can be frustrating for your senior and for other people, but on their own they might not be dementia related. That’s especially true if the trouble your senior is having is temporary and occasional. If she’s frequently having trouble coming up with the right words or following conversations, that might be reason for bigger concern. 

Or Trouble with Simple Decisions 

Adults make thousands of decisions every single day, your senior included. But if your elderly family member seems to be having trouble with simple everyday decisions that were never a problem before, it’s important to pay attention. For instance, she may wear clothes that are inappropriate for the weather, like a sweater on a blistering hot day. Or she may make decisions that are questionable in other ways, like in terms of her safety. 

And Routine Tasks May Be Difficult 

Tasks that your senior has done every day for years, like making her favorite coffee, are things that she may never worry will become difficult. And then maybe one day she doesn’t remember what happens next in the process. That can be disconcerting for her and it can also be a sign that there’s more going on that she needs to address. It might help to have elder care providers taking over some of those tasks for her. 

Talk to Your Senior’s Doctor 

If you or your senior are noticing these issues, talk to her doctor. Sometimes these symptoms have another explanation, such as side effects from medications. But it could be that your elderly family member is dealing with the beginning stages of dementia. It’s important to know what she’s up against so that she can get the help that she needs. It might also be time to look into options such as home care assistance so that your elderly family member has help at home. 

Have Home Care Assistance to Lean on

It's never easy to face up to the possibility of a serious condition like dementia. But having a plan and having home care assistance services to lean on can make this process a lot easier for your senior and for you. 

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

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