Seniors are living longer, and many Floridian retirees have chosen to age in place in their own homes. If you only see your family members occasionally, you may notice subtle differences in their behavior. In this article, we examine some behavioral changes that may indicate dementia onset in older adults. However, it is essential to remember that one of these signs on its own may not point to dementia – rather, a general progression in which you notice multiple warning signs may necessitate intervention.

Here are some of the signs of early dementia onset to look for to best protect your loved one:

  1.  Asking the same question repeatedly: Everyone has moments when they forget something they’ve heard, but if you notice them asking you the same fundamental question many times in a row, they could be experiencing short-term memory loss. They may also exhibit difficulty following a direct one-on-one conversation. This symptom may also present as forgetting how to do simple, everyday tasks – such as how to use silverware correctly.
  2. Time management issues: When dementia begins to manifest, processing an accurate passage of time becomes challenging. You may notice your parent accusing you of not visiting them for months when you saw them last week, or they may think that they retired recently when it has been several years since they held a job.
  3. Difficulty recognizing or remembering people: Not recognizing a grandchild they haven’t seen for a decade is one thing (and probably nothing to worry about), but not remembering a longtime friend is grounds for concern. It can be very emotional for everyone involved, but this is one of the classic signs of dementia onset.
  4. Changes in hygiene or appearance: If your loved one always took pride in their appearance but now rarely gets dressed, it may be time for concern. Another warning sign is if they seem to be losing a lot of weight. Check their refrigerator and cupboard to see if they are low on food and haven’t been shopping or eating. Your loved one may also begin to dress very differently than they ever have before.
  5. Lapses in judgment: One of the early onset signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s is the inability to determine the short-and long-term consequences of an action properly, so your parent might begin to do uncharacteristically reckless things – such as going on irrational spending sprees or selling their possessions.
  6. Scratches and dings on their vehicle: Driving requires complex brain activity, which is diminished when dementia appears. Cognitively impaired motorists put themselves and others in danger. If you see signs of unexplained damage on the car, they may be hitting curbs, walls, or other vehicles in a parking lot.
  7. Neglected or sick pets: Dogs and cats are excellent companions for senior citizens, but when a pet’s safety and welfare is in jeopardy, it may indicate that your parent is experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Empty water bowls or stains on the carpets may point to neglect, while the animal acting strangely could also point to the need for someone to help with the pet.
  8. Unopened mail, especially bills:  Look for any piles of paperwork or past-due notices that may be putting your loved one at financial risk. Although procrastination is common in people of all ages, those with dementia are known to avoid complex tasks as they get confused.
  9. Misplacing and mislocating everyday items:  One of the most telling dementia onset symptoms is the misplacement of everyday objects in obviously wrong locations – such as eyeglasses in the refrigerator or a wallet in the bathtub.
  10. An unkempt house: Not everyone is a meticulous housekeeper, but if the home is covered in dirty dishes and trash that needs to go out, your loved one may be forgetting to do these chores.
  11. Repetitive motions or new compulsive habits: Sometimes dementia causes the development of new behavior, like tapping a pencil for hours or ripping napkins into tiny pieces. If you notice a new habit that seems compulsive, you may wish to schedule an appointment with their physician.
  12. Personality changes (typically adverse):  One of the dementia onset indicators is personality changes. Usually, this is not a good change – your friendly parent may become antisocial, or your level-headed loved one may begin to overreact to everything. Sometimes, adult children think their parents are being unreasonable and insensitive when it’s dementia causing the behaviors. This can also manifest as an emerging sense of irrational paranoia.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia and you’d like to research memory care centers, call My Care Finders. Our professional experts can help you to choose the best potential residences based on need and budget – and if you begin the process early enough, you can involve your loved one in the decision.

My Care Finders is a FREE senior placement service in Florida.