At Paintbrush Assisted Living, we recognize how severe a disease Alzheimer’s can be for seniors. Being one of the most progressive brain disorders, it causes issues like memory loss, cognitive decline, and other symptoms. Although it is one of the most common types of dementia, families often fail to recognize its early symptoms until they see signs of severe memory impairment. While symptoms of Alzheimer’s can vary from one person to another, memory issues are noticeably one of the most common signs of the disease. For families, it could mean facing a time of distress and feeling overwhelmed. The solution? Keep an eye on your loved one for the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Here’s a quick overview of the early signs of Alzheimer’s—and how to recognize when it might be time to consider professional Alzheimers Care in Fresno, CA.
Memory & Thinking Changes
One of the easiest signs of Alzheimer’s to notice in an individual is memory loss and thinking changes that begin to affect their daily life. While a typical age-related change often includes forgetting names or appointments occasionally but remembering them later, in Alzheimer’s, all this happens frequently.
Persistent Memory Loss
The key difference between a typical age-related memory loss and the one occurring due to Alzheimer’s is the frequency, persistence, and severity. In Alzheimer’s, the individual starts to show symptoms characterized by forgetting recent events, asking the same questions repeatedly, or forgetting important information like names or addresses.
Difficulty With Planning & Organizing
Have you lately noticed that your loved one is facing difficulty planning or solving problems, like in the case of following a recipe or managing finances? If yes, know that it’s a potential warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, especially if these challenges have begun disrupting their daily life.
Poor Or Decreased Judgement
As early signs of Alzheimer’s, your loved one may exhibit poor or decreased judgment, as evidenced by difficulty making sound decisions, handling finances, or performing daily tasks such as basic hygiene. They may start making out-of-character decisions that would be abruptly noticeable.
Problems With Abstract Thinking
Due to losing a sense of abstract thinking, the individuals might face difficulty in grasping concepts, solving problems, and understanding numbers and symbols. This impairment makes it difficult for the individual to perform tasks like managing finances, using a calculator, or understanding complex ideas.
Language & Navigation Challenges
Another key area to look out for in an individual is their ability to converse using language. Additionally, they might have difficulty navigating familiar places or become confused about the date & time.
Difficulties Finding Words
Word-finding difficulty is common in individuals who are at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This condition is also known as anomic aphasia, characterized by difficulty recalling the correct word when trying to remember it.
Difficulty With Comprehension
The affected individual faces difficulty with understanding and using their native language. They may struggle in a conversation and may misinterpret what’s been said. Additionally, they may also struggle to comprehend written material. They may start using the wrong substitute for a word that they weren’t able to pronounce.
Loss Of Verbal Fluency
Difficulty finding the right words, taking frequent pauses in a conversation, fragmenting sentences, and experiencing a reduced ability to express thoughts clearly and promptly are all early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Disorientation
Your loved one may experience difficulty recognizing familiar places and may also struggle with confusion about time. While occasional forgetfulness is normal, Alzheimer’s-related disorientation would result in the individual getting lost in familiar places, losing track of dates or seasons, and having difficulty completing daily tasks.
Behavioral & Personality Shifts
Some early behavioral and personality shifts in Alzheimer’s include those of apathy, agitation, anxiety, increased irritability, mood swings, and disinhibition. These changes typically occur due to frustration with declining memory and lead to inappropriate actions.
Changes In Mood & Personality
This happens due to the disease damaging brain cells that affect the individual’s emotional regulation and social behavior. Common changes to be seen include depression, anxiety, irritability, social withdrawal, agitation, and aggression.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal as an early sign of Alzheimer’s includes the person losing interest in favorite hobbies, work routines, and social activities. They may also start withdrawing from social situations due to difficulty keeping up or feeling self-conscious.
Misplacing Things
Alzheimer’s disease causes toxic changes in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, which are essential parts of the brain for memory and navigation. Because of these changes, the individual faces difficulty with recall and recognizing objects and places.
Aberrant Motor Behavior
Aberrant Motor Behavior (AMB), as depicted by acts of pacing, repetitive movements, fidgeting, and wandering, is a more common sign linked to Alzheimer’s progression in its early stages. These are often known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and can signal the presence of neurodegeneration even before significant cognitive impairment has occurred.
What Families Should Do
As a family member noticing early signs of Alzheimer’s in your loved one, you must prioritize a medical evaluation, begin preparing legal and financial plans, and have a compassionate conversation with the loved one. Here’s a breakdown of these steps.
Get A Medical Evaluation Done
Schedule a doctor’s visit to learn about the treatable causes of dementia-like symptoms. It’s best to jot down the symptoms to see how they have progressed over time later. Accompany your loved one to the appointment and help them convey what issues they are facing.
Have An Open, Honest Conversation
Share your concerns with your loved one, stating how they may need a change in their living environment. Be gentle and calming in your conversation, and discuss the possibility of moving them to a memory care facility in Fresno, CA.
Create Legal And Financial Plans
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, begin with the legal and financial aspects of their future planning. Consider legal documents like a power of attorney and advance directives for healthcare and economic matters. Consider hiring an elder law attorney to assist you in navigating the complex legal and financial decisions.
Plan For Long-Term Care And Safety
While making modifications in the home environment is crucial, you must also plan for their long-term care. Include your loved one in the discussion about their preferences for long-term care. At the same time, try finding professional support options like those of memory care that take care of your loved one’s evolving mental health needs.
Paintbrush Assisted Living—Alzheimer’s Care Experts In Fresno, CA
At Paintbrush Assisted Living, we understand how challenging Alzheimer’s can be for seniors. Already coping with physical health decline, they also begin to face mental and cognitive challenges in their daily life. From facing difficulty finding the right words during conversations to facing issues understanding visual images and spatial relationships, the changes are easy to notice. If you also see that your loved one is suddenly dealing with memory & thinking changes, language & navigation difficulties, or behavioral & personality shifts, know that early symptoms may be starting. It’s time to seek professional help.
A professional can help you plan the future course of care for your loved one. Getting professional assistance ensures your loved one receives the support they truly need. Those seeking guidance regarding Alzheimer’s care in Fresno, CA, can contact us. We can help you decide whether at-home care would be appropriate for your loved one at the moment or whether they need to move to our community for memory care in Fresno, CA.
