Signs & Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative, and ultimately fatal disease that destroys brain cells.
There is no doubt that genetics play a role in the disease, but the most common way to get Alzheimer’s is just by normal aging – up to 10% of people between 65 and 74 years of age have this disease. However, there are medications health care providers may use to help manage problematic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms may include depression, sleepiness, and behavioral problems such as agitation and aggression. There are also new medications that may slow down the progression of the condition. An earlier diagnosis may increase the benefits.
The Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or progress at the same rate. Below are a list of things you will need to look for if you think a loved one may have signs of Alzheimer’s so you can get them the help they may need.
Loss of Abstract Thinking – Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may lose the ability to draw conclusions and solve problems.
Disorientation – People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on the street where they live, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
Lack of Initiative – Become passive or unmotivated, not pursuing his or her usual activities.
Language Problems – People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute words with inappropriate ones.
Misplacing Items – A person with Alzheimer’s will misplace things or place normal items in unusual places.
Mood Swings – Rapid mood swings from calm to tears to anger for no apparent reason is quite common.
Personality Changes – Has onset of severe personality changes while becoming extremely confused, suspiciously fearful, or dependent on a family member.
Poor Judgment – A loss of judgment is a common symptom. A patient may dress without regard to the weather, wearing several shirts or blouses on a warm day or very little clothing in cold weather. Others may give away large amounts of money to telemarketers or pay for home repairs or products they don’t need.
These are just a few of the troubling symptoms Alzheimer’s disease can cause. If you need help taking care of a loved one, contact Premier Caregiver Services at 877-724-3678. Whether you need part-time or full-time caregiver services, our staff is on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
It can be extremely difficult to talk to aging parents about getting extra help at home. In a current report that discussed a survey by AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors expressed interest in staying in their homes while aging. However, it is estimated that 70% of seniors will need in-home assistance to stay safe while aging in place. So, how do you speak to your aging parents about getting outside help from a home health care agency? While it can be extremely difficult to do so, it can be done. It must be done with care and sensitivity. Otherwise, you risk the discussion turning into an argument or an immediate shutdown on the topic. 
