Dementia is considered a collection of symptoms caused due to many reasons. The symptoms include impairment in communication, thought processes, and even memory. It is a mental state of illness. The memory care facilities in Arkansas have become known to provide premium services to the patient. Any mental illness is a matter of concern. However, many people take it lightly and not talk about it in public. They feel that it will affect their social prestige if they say that they have a mental illness. You cannot ignore that there is a social stigma associated with mental illness. It is the main reason why people try to keep the topic to themselves. However, some symptoms are associated with dementia that you must know.
What are the possible symptoms of dementia?
Dementia is often synonymous with a memory problem. However, it is not valid in all cases. A person will need to have at least two symptoms to conclude that they get diagnosed with dementia. If they face difficulty focusing, reasoning, communication, and language, they can consult a doctor. Apart from this, the following symptoms are associated with dementia.
- Short-term memory change: If you experience trouble with memory, it can be an early sign of dementia. The short term memory is the most commonly used term with this disease. Patients suffering from the illness may remember events that took place years ago but may not recall what they had for breakfast. The most common symptoms of change of memory are that they would forget where they left their items. They may also forget why they entered a room and what they were supposed to do in a day. They may also struggle to recall the names of people, pets, or things. The situation may get worse with time.
- Difficulty to find the right words: An early symptom of dementia is that the person struggles to communicate thoughts with others. They will have trouble explaining a particular thing that they have gone through. It is primarily due to the struggle that they face to find the right words. If a person has dementia, then conversing with them can be difficult, and also the process might take longer than usual.
- Mood change: A change in mood is associated with the early symptoms of dementia. Also, depression is familiar with a person suffering from dementia. They are people who have difficulty to fight with their mood swings. Sometimes they fail to recognize who they are and why they are experiencing a particular feeling. The mood change can also trigger a change in personality. They might change from a shy person to an outrageous one. The condition often affects their judgment. They feel many things are going inside them, and they cannot ease it out.
- Apathy: Listlessness or apathy is an early sign of dementia. The person may lose interest in activities and hobbies. They may want to stay away from anything that causes fun. They may experience emotional upheaval and may not want to spend time with family and friends. The apathy can drive a distance from the near and dear ones. They may feel their presence to be a burden.
- Face difficulty in accomplishing everyday tasks: A person who has dementia may not do the simple daily mission. The usual trend is that they start with difficulty doing a complicated job, which may worsen. They would have to learn the tasks all over again. Also, they might face problem to learn new lessons. The condition may get severe over time.
- Confusion: The feeling of chaos is widespread among dementia patients. It is due to lapse in memory, judgment, and thinking. Confusion may arise as a result because of these issues. They may not remember faces, facts, right words, or even interact with people normally.
When do you know that it is time to see a doctor?
Dementia care is not easy. It has to do with your mental and physical wellbeing. Memory loss is widespread as you age. It can also occur due to fatigue. However, if you feel that you are experiencing two or more of the symptoms mentioned above, you should see a doctor. The doctor may refer you to a neurologist. The neurologist can examine your mental and physical condition and then conclude whether it is due to dementia or anything else.
They may even conduct a blood test, a brain imaging test, memory, mental test, or even a neurological exam. It is best to take their help to assess your condition and overcome the disorder. It is difficult to consider a memory care facility because you might feel unsure about the kind of services they might deliver. However, it is not true that memory care communities are not efficient. Some facilities have trained professionals to take care of your family member.