As you age your brain does too! No real surprise there, other than some brain aging can be harmful and cause lots of issues both physically and mentally. How do we know our brain is aging naturally or if we have developed some form of dementia? This is a question you or your aging parents ask time and time again when they forget the easiest of tasks.

According to many definitions, dementia is not a disease per say, but a term that reflects the impairment in the brain to function and perform daily tasks easily. Dementia fogs the memory to think and make decisions, and act on daily living activities. So why the concern? How do I know if my aging loved one indeed has dementia? There are several signs to help you with the diagnosis.

Some Signs That Your Aging Parent Might Have Dementia  

• Repeating the same things over and over. Repetition of the same cycle of conversations can be a big red flag something is up, and why mom or dad just cannot remember. It is usually one of the first signs you might notice. If they repeat the same conversations over and over, you might want to investigate what is going on. Also, if they ask a question and 15 minutes later you get the same question, you may decide you need to explore if things are okay.
• Daily Tasks are Difficult to Complete or Understand the Process. Again, no surprise in that we all forget from time to time, and as you age, you can forget just a bit more or a bit more often. However, when natural forgetfulness turns into forgetting to turn off the stove or lock the door, then you have an issue. These are activities of daily living that should be almost automatic in our brains; and when they disappear, we need to discuss with our doctor whether we are aging naturally or is there a bigger problem that needs to be addressed before an accident occurs.
• Communication Becomes Difficult. Again, we all can forget something  or try to remember something and it seems just beyond recollection or grasp. However, if mom or dad struggle with trying to remember common words and/or stops in the middle of a sentence or conversation often, this could be a sign of dementia. It is completely worth exploring to see if there are other signs. 
• I am Lost! When mom or dad cannot get to the store or they are confused where places are located that they have been to many times, it is probable that they have a memory issue. 
• Shifts in Personality. Changes in mom’s personality can be all over the map. A noticeable shift toward depression, anxiety or anger over things that they never got upset about before are indicators that they might be struggling with dementia. They could have a shift in judgement or behavior that is out of their normal behavior and again, this could be due to memory issues or dementia. 

When mom or dad starts to show the above symptoms, it is not time to panic, but you should consider a trip to their physician to have an exam. Sometimes the signs are indicators of the normal aging process, and sometimes it is an indicator of dementia or other medical concerns that share the same symptoms, and needs to be addressed. Once you have visited their primary care physician, it is a good follow-up to visit a neurologist or a geriatic specialist to do any further assessments. The bottomline is to not panic and remember there are many resources out there to help you with mom or dad. Need further help in assessing parents and their senior care, contact Ann at Senior Living Options. She is a great resource to help you through the aging process with loved ones.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.