Providing the right care for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease starts with recognizing the signs. If you’re unsure whether or not your loved one needs professional care, look for these common signs of progressive Alzheimer’s disease.
5 Signs That Require Special Attention
1. Your parent shows poor judgment.
Maybe your dad has started to spend money carelessly or your mother now makes unsafe or careless decisions. If you notice a sudden change in behavior, take special note of each incident, and ask other relatives or friends if they have noticed the same things.
2. Your parent asks the same question repeatedly.
Does your parent repeat the same story during a visit or declare the same thing repeatedly during the day? If so, it could be a sign of onset dementia.
3. Your parent has trouble remembering things.
It’s normal to have memory lapses from time to time, but forgetting an important event or having trouble thinking of the rights words may be a sign of something more serious. Document when your parent has forgotten something and how often it happens.
4. Your parent struggles with learning something new.
Does your parent have unusual difficulty learning something new, such as operating a new microwave or using a smartphone? Take note of what your parents have a difficult time with and how they managed.
5. Your parent loses interest in hobbies and activities.
Did your mom love to read but now struggles through a few pages? Has your father stopped going to the golf course or talking to long-time friends? If your parent doesn’t have a problem with physical health but loses interest in leisure activities, it could indicate an underlying problem and require special attention from a professional.
When you notice these signs, jot them down and talk with a professional care provider. Provide as much detail as you can so that the doctor can diagnose Alzheimer’s or another cognitive disease. Tracking your parent’s behavior and getting special care early on can help treat the problem sooner and hopefully slow the disease’s progression.