10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Possibly the most frustrating disease to diagnose and obtain, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis means a continual decline in quality of life for a loved one. It’s devastating for everyone involved and brings on a realization that each moment needs to be lived to the fullest. It’s also difficult to realize that Alzheimer’s disease didn’t appear overnight. There were 10 major signs that came on slowly so that each one was a temporary frustration until we finally realized they all added up to a bigger problem. The 10 major signs of potential Alzheimer’s disease are:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life such as forgetting activities such as eating, bathing, or taking necessary medication.
• Challenges in planning or solving problems involving an inability to make a plan outside of a single action.
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks such as tying shoes and buttoning shirts and pants.
• Confusion with time or place. This makes it difficult to navigate around town because an individual sees things as they were previously rather than as they are currently. This warning sign can also contribute to missing meals and medications.
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships will cause loved ones to bump into things more frequently or not recognize nearby objects as the object that they may be looking for. A very common example is, “Have you seen my glasses?”
• New problems with words in speaking and writing such as the slurring of words or messy, shaky handwriting rather than the neat penmanship that was previously a source of pride.
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. They know they need shoes to go on a walk but can’t find their shoes and have no recollection of when they last wore shoes.
• Decreased or poor judgment. Loved ones may suddenly decide that going for a walk or driving to the store at night when they haven’t been out at night unsupervised in years is a good idea.
• Withdrawal from work or social activities due to an inability to get ready and get out of the house or to remember that there are requirements of their time for the day.
• Changes in mood and personality such as becoming easily agitated as they insist they haven’t forgotten anything.

These 10 signs have been building over time, and now it’s obvious that quality of life is going to be a top priority after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. At Griswold Home Care, we have the experience to keep you and your loved one living a high quality of life from initial diagnosis all the way to the time of passing. From mealtime companion care to live-in and overnight care, someone can be there to handle all your loved one’s needs. If you’ve been taking on most of the care of your loved one yourself, consider respite care service so that you have time for your own care with your loved one in capable hands. The variety of services offered can be tailored to fit the needs of you and your loved one at all stages of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. For more information about the services we refer for, contact us today!