Signs of Dementia in Older People

Dementia is a condition affecting millions of Americans each year. It causes a decline in the patient's ability to reason, affects her memory and causes a decline in multiple other mental functions. Those affected are unable to perform everyday activities, and it is the leading reason for placement into a long-term care facility. This condition progresses at a different rate for everyone, and not everyone will suffer from the same symptoms.

Significance

• Dementia used to be known as senility and was once thought of as a normal part of the aging process. The medical community now knows this is not the case; there are many underlying medical conditions including Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and brain tumors that all contribute to the development of dementia. In some cases, the condition can be reversed if treated properly with medication. This is why it is so important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment as early as possible.

Early Dementia

• The symptoms of dementia are typically broken into three stages, the first of which is deemed early dementia. It is during this stage that your loved one may find it difficult to find the words he wants to use when speaking, begins losing things such as his car keys, and forget names and appointments. He may begin experiencing mood swings, such as brief periods of anger, express poor judgement, become easily confused, and have difficulty performing simple, familiar tasks such as cooking or managing his checkbook. He may also display personality changes; if he was once happy and social, he may become depressed and withdrawn.

Intermediate Dementia

• Not only may they display symptoms from early dementia, they may also display symptoms that include a disrupted pattern of sleep; rather than sleeping at night, they sleep during the day and are awake all night. They find it difficult to learn and retain new information, and their risk for injury increases as their judgement decreases and confusion increases. They may begin hallucinating, become inattentive, lose interest in the world around them and display abnormal moods such as anxiety or depression.

Severe Dementia

• By this point, they have generally lost all independence and require assistance with all of the activities of daily living. This includes, but is not limited to, dressing, bathing, and toileting. They may lose control of their reflexes, such as swallowing, which puts them at greater risk for aspiration, choking and malnutrition. They generally do not recognize family or friends, and have lost nearly all of their short-term and long-term memory. Physical complications can present themselves during this stage as well; it is not unusual for a dementia patient to suffer from bladder and bowel incontinence, bed sores due to an inability to stand or walk, and an increase in serious injuries due to poor judgement such as believing she can get up from her wheelchair and then falling on the floor.

Considerations

• It is possible for those who suffer from the first two stages of dementia to live in their own homes with the help of family, friends or visiting nurses. They definitely need someone to check in on them throughout the day to ensure they are safe and taking their medications as prescribed. They may also need someone to help with their housework; if they are living in an unsanitary environment, they can be lawfully removed and placed in a nursing facility. For those who have progressed into the last stage of dementia, living at home is nearly impossible. They require around the clock care, and not only is this too much work for family and friends, it can become costly to hire people to help. This is the point when placement into a nursing facility should be, and usually is, considered. Not only are they provided with constant care and supervision, they are also allowed more freedom in a safe environment.