Your dad forgets his glasses are on his head. He can't remember where he put his keys. He forgot an old coworker's name while the two of you were shopping for groceries. These can be nothing to get concerned about. They can also be an early indicator of dementia. If you ignore the early signs, you'll find your dad worsening. He soon forgets he has food cooking in the oven and leaves the house to walk to the post office. He called you to catch up on family news, but he just called you that morning. He needs to pay for his purchase, but he can't count out the right amount of cash. These are all situations that can happen when dementia is present.
How Dementia Starts
Dementia is a catch-all term for a condition that impacts cognitive skills. Alzheimer's is a well-known form of dementia. It occurs when the brain health starts to diminish. Signals traveling to different areas of the brain get stuck and cause issues with memory, reasoning, language, and even motor function.
In the early stages, you might not notice too much. Your dad becomes forgetful. As months and years pass, your dad's abilities worsen. It's when things start to worsen that most people seek a medical expert's opinion.
What Do You Do Next?
It's important to get a professional's advice. Bring your dad in for a cognitive skills assessment. This is the best way to decide if his forgetfulness is something concerning. If you can't find time to drive him to the doctor, there are other options.
Start reading up on dementia. The more information you have, the easier it will be to recognize the common symptoms. It also helps you understand how to communicate with your dad. A common mistake people make is to say things like “I already told you that.” That only frustrates the person with dementia.
Prepare yourself for future caregiving needs. As the dementia progresses into the moderate and late stages, your family caregiving duties will increase. You're going to want respite care services in place. You'll need a support team to help you handle the difficulties you'll have emotionally and physically.
Home care services help seniors with transportation needs, help around the home, and medication reminders. That's just a start. Talk to a home care agency about your dad's changing needs. Caregivers can make sure your dad is safe and well while aging at home. They also provide you with breaks. Call today.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in Stuart, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.