When Alzheimer’s disease affects someone you love, it can be gut-wrenching. However, it can become easier to process once you begin to educate yourself about the signs of this disease and possible treatment options. It is a tough illness to read, mainly because not all incidents relating to Alzheimer’s directly involve memory loss. On the contrary, there are symptoms of the disease that are separate from memory, and detecting some of these signs at an early stage can help you treat your loved one sooner.
Problems with Vision
Like memory loss, vision issues can’t automatically be tied to Alzheimer’s as it could just be a case of age catching up with someone. At some stage, difficulties with vision affect everyone.
However, if things are becoming harder to read on a page or screen for your loved one, it could be a small indicator. If they are experiencing problems judging distance or telling colors apart, you need to get these issues checked out and determine if the cause may be Alzheimer’s.
Loss of Interest
Once your loved one starts to lose interest in spending time with their family or friends or engaging in their former favorite activities, take note of this change. Any lack of desire to do regular tasks or go to events might be a cause for concern.
Familiar things such as driving (or even knowing a very familiar location) become much harder. Having severe trouble completing ordinary tasks at work could also be a sign as well. If your family member or spouse is experiencing problems getting through personal and professional routines while showing little fervor towards dealing with them, try to encourage them to seek help.
Troubles with Planning
Everyone has plans that they don’t always stick with, whether it’s through external influences or from procrastination. However, when this reluctance to accomplish small tasks becomes a regular occurrence, this can be troublesome.
This symptom can manifest as a decreased ability to concentrate when performing standard duties that involve numbers such as remembering dates or tracking bills.
Confusion and Disorientation
Does your loved one understand time? People with Alzheimer’s are often unaware of time, losing track of dates or even seasons. In some case, those affected by this disease end up wearing clothes that don’t fit that particular time of year.
Unless they are dealing with something in the immediate present, they may struggle to understand what’s happening. Your friend or family member can have issues remembering where they are or how they arrived at a location. Furthermore, trouble following or understanding a conversation and difficulty finding words or repeating words and phrases without being prompted can become apparent patterns with your loved one.
Personality Changes
People displaying symptoms of Alzheimer’s may also become more irritable, confused, or anxious when present in some situations. You will have to develop a thicker skin as your loved one may act out or get upset at you for reasons you don’t comprehend. He or she is also likely to develop new phobias of various things, including shadows and noises.
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease and is in need of urgent care or a change of scenery to improve their mental health, Colten Adult Care is the place for you. Contact Peter today for more details on all of our facility’s features, including a full-time activities program, top-notch amenities, and much more!
