Mom looks to be a little bit puzzled as of late. Last week, she used salt rather than sugar in her popular butter cookie recipe. She called the cat by my sister’s name. And she lost her handbag, to discover it in the medicine cabinet. Is it possible she’s developing Alzheimer’s disease or another sort of dementia and needs the help of a professional home care agency?
Although there are various other factors behind dementia-like indicators such as these – medication side effects or depression, for instance – these types of red flags help doctors determine whether dementia is the culprit:
- Mental function deficits – determined by speaking with both the affected person and the ones closest to her, in combination with cognitive testing.
- Changes in formerly mastered skills – measuring abilities that were quite readily performed prior to now against new challenges.
- Challenges with activities of day to day life – evaluated through worries conveyed by loved ones.
- Some other physical conditions – studying underlying circumstances which could bring about delirium, which mimics dementia, such as bacterial infections, thyroid issues, electrolyte imbalances, and more.
- Mental history – a complete overview of mental issues that may come into play, like depression or schizophrenia.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, call the best Hinsdale home care agency, Indepencence-4-Seniors Home Care. Our caring, knowledgeable dementia care team is prepared to assist.