Three Common Dementia Symptoms
As dementia progresses, our Waupaca memory care staff knows that many things a loved one says and does can be frustrating and hard to understand. Families who had sweet and loving mothers suddenly are mean and wander the neighborhood at night. Maybe they are suddenly swearing at family members? While these behaviors are alarming, they can be the first symptoms of dementia. These actions make sense to the person with the disease. Understanding them can help you to respond correctly and determine whether they need memory care in Waupaca.
Here are three examples:
Wandering
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, more than 60 percent of people with dementia will leave home and become lost at some point. Up to half of those will suffer a severe injury or death if they are not found within 24 hours. That is why Waupaca memory care is so important to look into if you believe your loved one is suffering from dementia.
Wandering can stem from many things. The person living with dementia may be restless or feel like they should be somewhere else. If they have pent-up energy, make sure you take them walking during the day. Boredom may also prompt wandering, or they may have muscle memory if they used to take frequent walks in the evening.
Issues With Personal Hygiene
They are losing the ability to identify the meaning of objects. This is a symptom called agnosia that develops in dementia’s middle stage and is very familiar to the staff members who specialize in memory care in Waupaca. The brain can no longer tell the difference between a toilet and a couch; and accidents begin to happen.
This loss of meaning can apply to all things, so you have to remind them in this stage to “not touch” things such as fire, sharp items, etc. Also, learn trigger phrases that mean they need to use the bathroom. For example, a loved one might say, “I need to go down the hall” when they must go to the bathroom.
Making Off-Color and Profane Comments
Dementia affects the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls inhibition, and the areas that control language. These issues can lead loved ones to say things that are not exactly the right thing. Listen to what they’re saying closely. They may be trying to tell you they are in pain.
Deciphering the reasons behind these behavioral expressions is tough; our Waupaca memory care facility has staff that are very adept at determining the type of care your loved one needs and when it is time for them to have this care. Please explore Park Vista for all your memory care needs.
Making It Matter one day at a time.
As time goes on, you might need more help with day-to-day activities. There are lots of options at Park Vista. Our assisted living in Waupaca option allows you to stay physically and mentally active with our on-site amenities, intentional programming, and round-the-clock care provided with compassion and grace.
