Forgetfulness is a common part of aging. It’s normally harmless—we all sometimes forget where we put our keys or why we walked into a room. However, there are key differences between forgetfulness and more serious issues like dementia.
Dementia is a serious cognitive impairment, while forgetfulness is just the occasional mistake. If your loved one simply slips up here and there, it’s probably harmless. However, if their memory is declining and interfering with their everyday quality of life, this could be a sign of dementia.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia isn’t a disease on its own. Rather, dementia is a term used to describe symptoms caused by neurodegeneration—that is, damage to the brain. These conditions impact memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and communication.
Unlike forgetfulness, dementia represents a more significant decline in cognitive abilities. The underlying conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia, damage the brain’s physical structures. This is why symptoms develop—the structural damage begins affecting how the brain itself works.
There are several types of dementia, each with different causes and effects. However, the result is often the same—dementia worsens and causes more and more damage. Eventually, a person living with dementia needs professional support to maintain their quality of life.
The First Signs of Dementia
Dementia is a subtle condition. When damage first occurs, the symptoms aren’t obvious. However, they eventually worsen and become more and more noticeable.
Recognizing early signs of dementia makes it much easier to find proper care and support for your loved one. These symptoms often include:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting important dates or events.
- Increased confusion, such as struggling to follow directions or recall details.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks, like paying bills or making coffee.
- Personality or mood changes, such as increased irritability or withdrawal from activities.
These symptoms gradually become more pronounced. Soon, they significantly affect your loved one’s quality of life. They create challenges in simple tasks and make independent living much more difficult.
Is Dementia a Normal Part of Aging?
It’s common to think that cognitive decline might be a normal part of the aging process. However, this isn’t quite the case. Age-related forgetfulness is normal—the brain changes as we age, and our ability to recall information sometimes decreases.
Normal age-related forgetfulness often involves things like missing somebody’s birthday or misplacing an item. These changes can be frustrating, but they rarely indicate a serious problem. They also typically don’t disrupt daily life or persist and worsen. Cognitive changes are entirely normal as you get older.
However, this doesn’t mean that everyone will develop dementia. Dementia is a severe condition that develops due to a mix of:
- Genetics
- Lifestyle factors
- Environmental factors
Dementia is a complex condition. It isn’t purely genetic. Instead, it’s a combination of multiple factors. This makes it challenging to predict when somebody is at risk of dementia. So how can you help?
What Is Memory Care?
If your loved one is living with dementia or showing signs of cognitive decline, it’s time for a change. And there’s good news: memory care may be able to help.
Memory care provides a specialized approach to treating dementia. It’s a residential lifestyle designed to help older adults living with progressive cognitive decline. Memory care takes a special approach to dementia care—it exists to give your loved one a safe and supportive setting built around making a difference.
In memory care, residents receive aid with daily tasks that give them trouble. Every person in memory care is treated as a unique individual and care is provided according to their situation and needs. However, memory care is about much more than just offering care—it’s designed to maintain your loved one’s dignity and quality of life in a respectful, loving way.
The Benefits of Memory Care
One of the significant benefits of memory care is access to round-the-clock support. Professional caregivers are available 24/7 to assist with:
- Personal care
- Meals
- Activities
- Medication management
Memory care is a thoughtful way to reduce stress, minimize confusion, and establish a structure for day-to-day life when dementia becomes a challenge. It’s about addressing the unique nature of cognitive decline and giving your loved one a safe space to thrive.
When To Move Someone With Dementia To Memory Care
If you’re not sure whether memory care is the right choice or not, that’s understandable. Dementia is a complicated condition. Making the choice to move someone to memory care is never easy, but certain signs indicate that it’s time for professional support.
Watch out for:
- Frequent wandering or difficulty finding their way in familiar places.
- Increased confusion or stress that affects their daily routines.
- Decline in personal hygiene or eating habits, leading to weight loss or malnutrition.
- Increased aggression or frustration in social settings.
- Caregiver burnout due to the demands of managing their care at home.
If your loved one is showing significant changes in their cognitive abilities, memory care can help you give your loved one a safe environment built to meet their needs. This doesn’t mean you’re giving up—you’re just getting your loved one the help they need.
How Memory Care Can Help
Memory care is an excellent way to help someone living with dementia. If your loved one is living with serious memory impairment or cognitive decline, it’s time to think about memory care. And our team here at Kingston of Dupont is ready to help. Contact our team today to schedule a visit, and let’s help your loved one in a way that truly makes a difference.
