How to Tell the Difference Between Normal Forgetfulness and Dementia?
As your loved one ages, it is natural for you to become more concerned about their health and be extra cautious to counter any issues before they arise. You may notice your loved one forgetting their keys more often or occasionally forgetting a name and wonder if they’re developing a memory-related disease, like dementia or Alzheimer’s.
It is natural for your loved one to occasionally forget as they grow older. However, there are some key differences between dementia and normal forgetfulness.
Normal forgetfulness involves memory lapses, which is not exactly worrying, while dementia, however, will require memory care. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between normal forgetfulness and dementia and outline the key measures that should be taken in each case.
How Normal is “Normal Forgetfulness”?
Forgetfulness is normal in people over the age of 55. In fact, it is known as age-related forgetfulness. It usually involves minor, almost insignificant, memory lapses, such as struggling to recall a name, forgetting where the keys were last placed, or missing an appointment. These are informally called senior moments, which are brief lapses in memory that come with age.
With normal forgetfulness, you can expect to see one of your parents or an elderly relative walk into a room and not remember what they were looking for. In fact, it is a positive sign if they can easily realize that they have forgotten something.
In age-related forgetfulness, people usually come around and eventually remember what they were looking for. However, if you want to improve your loved one’s memory, below are some tips that you can incorporate into their life.
3 Tips to Improve Memory and Avoid Forgetfulness
1. Sleeping Well
Firstly, make sure they sleep well. Your loved one’s circadian rhythm can impact them in countless ways. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for older adults to maintain their well-being. Inadequate sleep can lead to cognitive decline, which may eventually turn into a severe neurological disorder like dementia.
2. Regularly Exercising
Adding physical activity to your loved one’s routine has a number of benefits. One such benefit is that it helps raise blood flow to the body, including the brain. A key outcome of regular exercise is that it will help sharpen the memory of your senior loved one and reduce the risk of memory impairment.
3. Staying Organized
The more de-cluttered your loved one’s environment is, the clearer their mind will be. Clarity will keep them focused, leading to lower chances of forgetfulness. In case your senior loved one struggles to maintain their autonomy and needs help with daily living activities, such as bathing and grooming, you can turn to assisted living to prevent neglect, which could cause irreversible damage to their cognitive health.
What is Dementia?
Dementia, a neurological condition, is categorized as a decline in cognitive ability. It goes beyond age-related forgetfulness. An elderly person dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s won’t just face memory lapses, but they will also struggle to do basic daily tasks and maintain any autonomy.
Additionally, seniors with dementia often experience severe mental challenges, including agitation, confusion, and stress. Thus, dementia is much more serious and grave than just occasionally forgetting things.
It could be dementia if your loved one has:
- Repeatedly lost their way while driving or walking.
- Started repeating things in a single conversation.
- Been showing visible signs of discomfort and agony while processing a piece of information or putting together words to form a sentence.
Dementia affects more than 6 million Americans every single year. It is a lifelong condition that can prove to be challenging for an older person and their family. What’s concerning is that one out of every 10 people with mild cognitive impairment may progress to dementia. However, with early interventions, you can reduce the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s for your senior loved one.
Taking Care of an Older Adult with Dementia
Looking after someone who has dementia or who is at risk of progressing to it is both emotionally and physically demanding. It requires discipline, commitment, perseverance, and immense strength. As humans, it’s only natural to struggle with watching someone you have admired your whole life grow weak, confused, or forgetful.
An older adult with dementia not only requires physical care but also depends on emotional and mental support. Their home or room must be modified with improvements in lighting, while their routines should include exhaustive and structured daily activities.
As a family caregiver, you may struggle to give your undivided attention and time to your senior loved one, especially when you have other responsibilities on your shoulders, such as your work and family.
Looking for a Community to Ensure Effective Care of Your Senior Loved One? Consider Visiting Adante Assisted Living & Memory Care.
A person with Alzheimer’s or dementia needs intensive care to improve or maintain their cognitive health and resume living a quality life.
With that said, as someone without caretaking experience, you may fall short at times while looking after your senior loved one. This is where Adante Assisted Living & Memory Care has got you covered. Our memory care program is designed for your senior loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s to help them live a quality life.
Want to learn how we can help your loved one with dementia in their journey? Contact us now to know more about our offerings.
