As our loved ones age physical, mental as well as emotional changes are expected. These changes come with a wide variety of symptoms. Some symptoms are a ‘telling of the times’, but others can be an early indication of something more.
These changes can be a cause for concern for you and the senior in your life. According to the American Senior Communities, cognitive decline is among the top ten health concerns for aging communities. Memory loss and/or forgetfulness can lead to accidents and other safety concerns, but can also be a source of anxiety for your loved one. Most worry comes from a fear of something worse and is often followed with reluctance to bring attention to the condition. These situations can quickly become difficult to navigate.
Differentiating between ‘normal’ aging and diseases will help to determine if a greater problem could be at bay. Normal aging type memory loss will typically allow for one to take care of oneself. If you notice a new onset of lack of ability to follow written/spoken directions or forgetting entire segments of time, these can be telltale signs of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. With normal aging, reminders such as alarms or notes can help with completing daily tasks. Forgetfulness of details of events is frequently considered part of the aging process.
Early detection with any disease is important. Understanding what is a cause for concern can be beneficial in the most successful journey through the aging process.