How to Deal With Memory Loss in the Elderly

Memory loss symptoms may arise in the elderly for various reasons such as aging, stress or other more serious medical conditions. Dealing with the memory loss of loved ones can be difficult but it's much easier to manage once the cause of the memory loss is pinpointed. There aren't cures for most causes of memory loss, but locating the root of the problem will help you to better design methods of coping and caring for your loved one.

Instructions

• 1

  Evaluate whether the elderly person in your life actually has a memory loss problem. As people age, they are stereotyped as being forgetful, among other things. Pay close attention to your loved one's behavior. If you notice a drastic increase in forgetful activity such as getting lost while traveling to a place that he has traveled to countless times before, then it's time to take action.

• 2

  Spend time with your elderly companion. It's possible that he may be clinically depressed. Depression, anxiety and stress cause forgetfulness in people of all ages. If a person has recently lost a spouse, close friend or sibling, and you notice a significant change in behavior or appearance, you should consult a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist will be able to to gauge the emotional stability of your loved one. It's possible that if the diagnosis is depression, your loved one may need ongoing counseling or even medication to correct the problem.

• 3

  Consult a physician. With a few tests, a doctor will be able to tell you the cause of your loved one's memory loss. Memory loss is a symptom of multiple medical conditions such as Alzheimer's and Dementia.

• 4

  Check in on your loved one frequently. As memory loss symptoms progress, it's possible that your loved one won't be living a quality life. He may forget to clean himself, eat, clean the house or perform other maintenance basics that many do without giving it a second thought. If you notice this behavior to an excess, you may want to check in on your loved one more frequently or consider hiring a live-in caregiver. This will insure that your loved one's health will be monitored as well as his safety.

• 5

  Practice patience. Your elderly loved one is no more happy about the added stress that memory loss brings than you are. Help as much as you can while also allowing a safe amount of independence.

• 6

  Admit your loved one to a assisted-living facility if the symptoms continue to progress. If your elderly companion has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Dementia, it's most often a question of time before he will need 24-hour care. Usually, this type of care is too large of a job for one person to handle.