Dementia is a condition no one wants to face, but millions of people over the age of 65 end up developing it. While there’s no cure for dementia, catching it early and seeking medical treatment can slow its progression in many cases. Many seniors who suspect they’re developing dementia go out of their way to hide the symptoms from their family members because they’re scared of what the future may hold. If you think your senior loved one might be hiding dementia symptoms, watch for the following five warning signs.
1. Avoiding Social Situations
One of the best ways to hide something from other people is to avoid them. You may notice your parent’s social activity has decreased for no particular reason. Perhaps your loved one has stopped going out to lunch with friends, golfing, attending church, or volunteering. He or she may suddenly be turning down invitations to parties or outings with close friends and family members. Your loved one may avoid long phone conversations or even ask you not to come over so often anymore.
2. Ceasing Participation in Beloved Activities
In addition to avoiding people, you may see your loved one start to avoid activities he or she once loved. These activities could be social, such as participating in a garden club or playing a sport, or something your loved one does alone, such as exercising, baking, working around the house, or doing arts and crafts. Your loved one may have forgotten how to do these things, or he or she may have had accidents while attempting them.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care, a leading provider of senior care Harrisburg, PA, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
3. Making Excuses
If your loved one forgets something or does something that leads you to think he or she may be developing dementia symptoms, he or she may make excuses. Your loved one may say things like “Everyone gets more forgetful when they age” or “I just didn’t get enough sleep last night” to cover up lapses in memory or judgment. Your parent may even snap at you when questioned.
4. Refusing to Ask for Help with Tasks
When your loved one begins to notice the first symptoms of dementia, he or she may no longer ask you for help with things. Easy tasks may become difficult, and your loved one may try to do them anyway or avoid them completely. These tasks may be as basic as bathing, brushing and flossing, cooking, or doing laundry. If you notice your parent isn’t practicing good hygiene or things aren’t getting done around the house, your loved one may be trying to hide dementia.
Seniors living with dementia often need assistance with the basic tasks of everyday life. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs 24-hour care, Harrisburg, PA, Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
5. Keeping Important Secrets
As dementia progresses, it can lead to accidents and mistakes a person wouldn’t normally make. Maybe your loved one got lost on the way to the supermarket and had a car accident or paid someone he or she didn’t owe money to. Instead of telling you about it, your parent may try to cover it up so you don’t question why it happened. Any sort of secretive behavior could be a sign your loved one has dementia.
Seniors with dementia often need help with a variety of tasks. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To customize a dementia care plan for your loved one, give us a call at (717) 540-4663 today.