Alzheimer’s in Seniors | Five Signs to Look For
How Important is it for you to Know the Signs of Alzheimer’s in Seniors?
Alzheimer’s in seniors is the most common type of dementia. That means you should be informed about its symptoms, and how it may affect your senior. The most obvious signs of this disease are how it alters judgment and behavior, as well as one’s memory. The signs of this disease in seniors can often be dismissed at first, but they become clearer as it progresses. These signs can be difficult to detect as people may notice changes in themselves, but remain quiet. For this reason, you may not be able to detect them in your loved ones until they reach a severe phase. Remain calm, in this blog post, you will learn of the five most frequent signs of Alzheimer’s, and how our Memory Care program can help.
What are the Causes of Alzheimer’s?
Well, while medical science is uncertain as to the causes of Alzheimer’s, there are some indicators that can be verified medically. These include an excess of protein in the brain cells, an immune system attack on brain cells, loss of connections between neurons, and buildup of beta-amyloid plaques.
Though research has been conducted, these signs alone have not been proven as the root cause of Alzheimer’s. What is a given, however, is that once a loved one has been diagnosed life changes drastically for the sufferer and their loved ones. Nevertheless, later in this blog, you will discover some activities carried out in Insignia Senior Living. These help to cognitively stimulate residents with the condition. Moreover, it makes them feel involved in the community.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in Seniors
Alzheimer’s symptoms vary between individuals but can include problems with memory, confusion, mood swings, trouble speaking or swallowing, and loss of interest in hobbies and activities. If your loved one is showing signs of memory loss, confusion, or mood swings, these may be early signs of Alzheimer’s worth considering. Seek immediate medical help. An early diagnosis may help ensure a better quality of life. Which are the five of the most common signs of this disease?
5 Signs of Alzheimer’s in Seniors
Some early symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be detected by simply observing your loved one. Some signs include difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, poor or decreased judgment, changes in mood or behavior, and decreased interest in work or social activities.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
If seniors are having a hard time completing certain tasks that they previously did with ease, it might be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
Problems with language
A change in the way someone speaks or forms sentences might indicate signs of Alzheimer’s, such as struggling to find the proper word or calling things by the wrong name.
Poor or decreased judgment
Alzheimer’s might harm seniors’ ability to make good judgments. This may cause them to do something dangerous, such as leaving the stove on when they leave a room or leaving the house at all times of the day.
Changes in mood or behavior
Signs of Alzheimer’s might include changes in mood or personality. Some signs may be mistaken as depression (sudden lack of interest), others are the opposite (increased confusion or fearfulness).
Decreased interest in work or social activities
If seniors are experiencing signs of Alzheimer’s, they might show decreased interest in their work, tasks, and social life. Moreover, they could avoid hobbies that once brought them joy, withdraw from family and friends, or not may refrain from attending events they usually enjoy.
How Insignia Senior Living helps residents with Alzheimer’s
The Seasons Memory Care Program provides adequate care for all residents with Alzheimer’s and other degenerative memory conditions. Our senior citizens stay active by exercising regularly and being part of a community with which they can interact.
Exercising is one of the best ways to stay healthy and reduce the signs of aging, signs of Alzheimer’s included. Moreover, exercise may help prevent falling frequently, getting lost easily by keeping the memory sharp and showing signs of dementia.
For seniors with signs of Alzheimer’s, however, there are some precautions to take into consideration. Seniors in Memory Care should avoid exercising near stairs or steep inclines, for example, because signs of Alzheimer’s disease may make it difficult to climb up and down steps safely.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels is an essential step in taking care of elders’ heart health.
If seniors have signs of Alzheimer’s, they might experience an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Consult a doctor before beginning a new physical fitness routine if your loved one has any of the previously mentioned signs of Alzheimer’s.
A key part of our Memory Care Program focuses on preparing caregivers to understand and care for residents with Alzheimer’s. Moreover, an activities program that promotes cognitive and motor response. Our team embraces the challenges they may present. Lastly, we’ve dedicated an entire wing at each of our communities to care for the Memory Care program. This allows us to focus our attention on residents that may require more assistance.
Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s?
You are doing a great job! Do not overextend yourself, ask for help when you need it. Analyze your situation and ask yourself if it may be time to seek professional help. There is no shame in that. Here are some games to stimulate the mind and help ease the challenge of keeping them busy.
Games for Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease
- Hanging Gardens (connect 3 or more of the same flowers by making paths of different colored flowers)
- Sudoku
- Minesweeper (in which you must flag all mines without getting blown up – helpful if a senior has memory problems and forgets where mines are)
- Spot the Differences (where you look at two similar but slightly different pictures and spot 10 differences in each picture)
- Tactical Assassins (a game where you shoot targets by finding their weak spot)
- Traffic Jam (where you play music to cars stuck in traffic; more difficult the longer they are stuck).
- Box World (where you unbox toys by moving the wooden crate over the toy)
- Memory (where you match pairs of cards showing pictures of objects, animals, or people – memories)
- Hangman (a game where you guess letters to complete a word).
- Solitaire (where you match cards to take away all the cards from a pack).
Games are great not only for keeping seniors’ minds sharp but also for socializing. They are fun for seniors to play with their friends or family members. Go ahead and search, there are dozens of other good games, so be sure to find some that will interest your loved one!
References
M. (2021, June 26). Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, December 13). 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/healthybrain/ten-warning-signs.html.
Association, A. (n.d.). Las 10 señales. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimer-demencia/las-10-senales.