How To Spot Alzheimer’s In Order To Provide Proper Elderly Care

By Author: Larry Chandler
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Some people are fighting a battle and do not even realize that there are options to help them with their struggles. It is very common for individuals to watch their parents or another relative slide into the early stages of Alzheimer's without realizing what is happening. Many times the topic of a nursing home or fulltime elderly care is brought up and met with stiff opposition. It is important to recognize the beginning stage of Alzheimer's in order to seek out the right care early on.

Seek out a Specialist

One of the problems associated with dementia and Alzheimer's is the fact that patients will often appear quite normal to a general doctor. A general physician may miss several signs that an experienced geriatric specialist will pick up on. Such a doctor can perform various tests on the blood and brain, as well as basic memory tests, to see if there are any hints of dementia. Since elderly care focuses on improving the quality of life for the patient it is important to understand what the patient is going through.

Highly Common


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... Although it takes the trained eye of a geriatric specialist to properly diagnose Alzheimer's, the disease is quite common. Over 12% of people over the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer's. By the age of 85 the percentage increases to 50%. Unfortunately, the disease continues to progress once it starts and so far there are no cures. But the good news is that early detection can lead to proper medication that delays the progression and allows people to continue to live independently. Some people choose in home elderly care during this phase to help monitor patients and prevent them from suffering any serious injury. In addition, patients who seem overly aggressive can also receive small doses of mediation that can help subdue their strong temper tantrums.

Tell Tale Signs

Most people can use the following checklist to determine if a person is suffering from Alzheimer's.

1.Trouble performing simple tasks that were once easy


2.Difficulty with speech


3.Loss of memory


4.Change in judgment decisions


5.Confusion about the current date and place


6.Losing items


7.Personality changes


8.Losing initiative to complete tasks


9. Mood swings


10.Difficulty in thinking abstractly

Picking up on these signs can help a person seek out proper elderly care for their loved one.

Other Tips

Besides getting proper medication and in home elderly care, there are some other ways to help people cope with their loved one's condition. The most important thing to understand is that people suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia do not act according to common logic. Therefore it is nearly impossible to reason with them. Instead, it is easier to go along with the person's requests and later change the subject. For instance, if a person states that they need to go outside and wait on their child to get off the school bus, it is futile to explain that their child is 49 years old and no longer attending school. It is much easier to simply walk with them outside for a few minutes and then subtly change the subject. A suggestion of “hey, why don't we eat some candy while we wait?” can be enough to convince a person to back inside and change their mind about waiting on the bus.

Larry Chandler is a freelance writer for Visiting Angels a company that specializes in non-medical elder care and senior care. To find the nearest location and get more information about their senior home care services visit their website at Visitingangels.com. Read our Alzheimer’s FAQ here: Visitingangels.com/alzheimers-faq.