3 Signs You Should Be Looking For Your In Loved One With Dementia
It is not unusual for people to get dementia as they age. Dementia or Alzheimer's disease can be incredibly hard for family and loved ones to witness. Some people deteriorate quickly, while for others it is a slow process. The important thing is to make sure that your loved one gets the treatment and care that they need, which may consist of a memory care facility. Here are some signs that your loves one's dementia is progressing.
1. Your Loved One Is Experiencing Personality Changes
One of the first things that you may notice is that your loved is not acting like themselves. They may experience dramatic mood swings and seem as though they aren't in control of their emotions anymore. Someone who was once a patient and quiet person may become critical, angry, and mean. They might even fixate on one person or thing that really bothers them, and this person could become very hurt. The hard thing about these personality changes is that they begin early on in the process, so you may not know that it is even dementia that is causing it. This can cause a lot of hurt feelings, but know that if you are being mistreated by your loved one, it is not them, but the disease.
2. Your Loved One Is Paranoid
Another common thing for a person with dementia to experience is paranoia. Your loved one may start to fear that people or some fictional organization or person is trying to hurt them. They may not let you give them medication because they think you are trying to poison them. They may hide in a room watching the actions of people from a window, assuming that everything is suspicious.
The danger in this is that your loved one may retaliate. They may decide that you are a threat and attack, or they might do dangerous things thinking they are protecting themselves, like run away from people, escape from the house, or purchase a gun thinking they are doing what is right for their safety.
3. Your Loved One Is Forgetting
It may just start with forgetting simple things like doctor's appointments, birthdays, and so forth. But eventually it will get worse, and they may not remember how to get home, who important people are, or even how to do certain things.
All of these things are signs that your loved one may be ready for memory care.