Seniors and people of almost any age can have moments where they forget things. But when is it normal forgetfulness, and when is it dementia? The difference can be frustrating for seniors, especially when they’re concerned about the changes they’re experiencing. Understanding some of these early signs of dementia can help seniors know when it might be time to talk to their doctors. Home care providers can help seniors with some of these concerns, even if it isn’t dementia.

Here are some signs to look out for.

Home Care Reedley CA – Early Signs of Dementia Seniors Shouldn’t Overlook

Short-term Memory Loss

Small memory lapses are fairly common for people of all ages. Seniors should be concerned when they experience short-term memory loss much more often than occasionally. Consistently forgetting recent events and new information is an important indicator that something might be wrong. People with dementia tend to have difficulty holding onto short-term memories and lose that information right away.

Increased Repetition

One of the common signs family caregivers might notice is increased repetition from their aging family members. Repeating questions, stories, or statements very quickly after the last time they said the same thing can be a sign of dementia. Because of the problems that dementia patients experience with short-term memory, they may not know or remember that they just asked the same question or told the same story.

Trouble Multitasking

Modern life often demands that even retired older adults try to do more than one thing at a time. But multitasking can start to get more difficult, or even impossible, if seniors are in the early stages of dementia. This is a sign that executive functioning is getting worse. Slowing down and taking one task at a time can help immensely. Home care providers can help aging adult with staying on target with the things they want to do.

Trouble Finding the Right Words

Sometimes, it’s tough to find just the right word for a situation or topic. This is another issue that people of all ages can run into. However, if this is happening more and more often and seniors are throwing words into conversations that don’t make sense, they may need to talk to their doctors. Elder care providers can help family caregivers watch for these types of subtle changes, especially if they’re not happening often yet.

Confusion About Places, Time, and People

Another problem that people in the early stages of dementia might experience could be confusion about people, places, and time. This disorientation is common because of the areas of the brain that dementia affects. Seniors may still be able to drive or engage in other normal activities for quite a while, but once they are confused or lost in familiar places, then it’s safer to let home care providers do the driving.

Trouble with Perception

Senses like hearing and vision are a little more complicated than they appear at first. The eyes take in visual cues and information, but the brain processes that information and makes sense of it. Unfortunately, for seniors with dementia, the brain may not process that information correctly. That causes issues for seniors with how they perceive the world around them.

Changes in Personality and Judgement

Any time that aging adults experience big changes in their personality, that’s a sign that there is likely something going on that warrants exploration. Withdrawing from social situations or experiencing changes in judgement, like making decisions that they ordinarily wouldn’t have made, are all indicators that seniors may be experiencing cognitive changes like dementia.

Learning what to watch out for can help families get seniors the care they need at the earliest stages of dementia. Home care providers can help seniors deal with the changes they’re experiencing, making life easier and safer.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Reedley, CA, please get in touch with the caring staff at Everlight Home Care today. Call us at 559-353-2847.

Private Duty Home Care in Fresno, Madera, Kern Counties, and surrounding communities. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Gina Kendall

Gina Kendall has over 25 years of work experience serving the aging and the disabled. Her extensive experience in care and management began as a Social Services Coordinator in skilled nursing facilities. While working in this capacity, she became aware of the need for, and the importance of, good, quality, home care. Gina worked with families to keep their loved ones home and avoid a return visit to the hospital. As she continued her career of service, she began working with the disabled population helping to expand and improve their independence throughout all aspects of life.

This combination of experiences has afforded Gina a unique view of the needs of the aging and the disabled and how to best serve those needs in a home setting.

Gina’s Central Valley roots run deep. She earned her BA degree from Fresno State in 1993 and has lived and worked in Fresno for the past 20 years. In addition to raising her family in Fresno, she is actively involved in her local church and is a volunteer for various local community organizations.

Latest posts by Gina Kendall (see all)

• Early Signs of Dementia Seniors Shouldn’t Overlook - April 15, 2025
• April’s Employee of the Month - April 8, 2025
• Some Fun Ways For Your Senior to Celebrate Earth Day - April 1, 2025