When a parent or spouse begins showing signs of dementia, many families struggle with the emotional and physical impact of the changes. It can be difficult to accept that a family member can no longer safely live on their own. As a result, families may not recognize the signs it’s time for memory care until a caregiving situation or rising tension among family members makes a conversation unavoidable.
This guide helps families in Loves Park, IL, separate dementia from normal signs of aging and start the difficult conversation about long-term memory care. At The Courtyard at Loves Park, independent living, assisted living, and memory care work together on one campus to give residents and their families options as needs change. Community resources, including this blog and the free downloadable below, help families make care decisions with confidence.
The First Signs of Dementia
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 250,600 people aged 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s in Illinois, many of whom are supported by family caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is also an authority on dementia detection, so this list of 10 signs of dementia to watch for is abbreviated from their official list:
- Memory loss that impacts daily life
- Difficulty with problem-solving and planning
- New issues completing familiar tasks
- Confusing times, dates, seasons, or places
- Trouble with images, colors, or spatial reasoning
- New problems with speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and not being able to retrace steps
- Worsening judgment
- Withdrawing from social activities, work, or hobbies
- Mood or personality changes
These signs usually do not appear alone. They also usually progress over time, so track overlapping or worsening signs and discuss them with a doctor.
Comparing Signs of Dementia With Normal Signs of Aging
These early signs cover a lot of ground and can be confused with normal signs of aging or even the symptoms of a treatable condition. One way to tell them apart is to separate physical symptoms from lasting mental changes.
Vision changes clearly illustrate the difference. Many seniors lose their vision over time due to normal aging or cataracts, which can impact their ability to read text on a screen or page, notice something, or tell colors apart. If this is the key symptom that family members notice, an eye doctor can rule out physical causes and potentially treat them without needing a conversation about dementia.
Speech changes are an even subtler example. Many people forget names or the word for something and remember it later. Dementia looks very different. People with dementia usually don’t remember it later, and they often create odd substitutes for common objects they can’t name. Calling a watch a “hand-clock” is a well-cited example.
When forgetfulness signals dementia, it often shows up in conversations. Your loved one may not retain recently learned information or may ask the same question repeatedly. The degree and pattern of memory loss is usually much more forgiving with age-related causes. For example, they may remember something later or laugh at their mistake.
Knowing When It’s Time for a Memory Care Community
It may be time to discuss memory care options when these signs become real symptoms that disrupt everyday life and put the senior and their loved ones at risk. They may begin to ask “how they got here” or show signs of paranoia, irritability, or confusion. They may wander off, get lost frequently, or lose depth perception and balance. What started as forgetting an occasional word can progress to difficulties managing medications, meals, and personal hygiene.
When the symptoms of dementia become difficult to manage alone, many family members step into the role of caregiver. However, untrained and unpaid family caregivers often exhaust themselves trying to care for their loved one. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 1 in 4 caregivers (26.3%) suffer from depression.
Caregiver exhaustion is another sign it could be time to discuss memory care. Most seniors do not want to be a burden to their family members, but one of the issues with dementia is how it takes away their ability to act in their family’s best interest. Family members may need to step in and advocate for both the person with dementia and themselves by starting the memory care conversation.
How to Talk About Memory Care With Family
Every situation is different, but many families encounter similar obstacles when broaching the subject of memory care.
Once dementia has progressed to a certain point, changing living situations, discussing care options, and adopting new routines becomes much more difficult. This is why it’s so important to recognize the signs it’s time for memory care as early as possible and respond while your loved one can still participate in the decision-making process.
Free Download: Recognizing the Signs of Dementia | A Family Checklist
This free resource helps families track potential signs of dementia, compare them to normal signs of aging, and find local resources to help get through this difficult situation.
Memory Care in Loves Park, Illinois
Memory care communities like the secure neighborhood at The Courtyard at Loves Park provide residents with evidence-based programming that helps them connect with others and stay active. Care is individualized to each resident’s needs and can be reassessed as their condition changes, so families can rest assured their loved one isn’t stuck in a one-size-fits-all program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early signs often include memory loss that disrupts daily life, trouble planning or solving problems, difficulty with familiar tasks, and confusion about time or place. Persistent changes that worsen over time are worth discussing with a doctor.
It may be time when a loved one wanders or gets lost, faces a rising risk of falls, or can no longer manage medications and hygiene without help. A memory care community can provide dedicated, around-the-clock support and prevent family caregivers from becoming exhausted.
Assisted living helps older adults with daily tasks while they live largely independent lives. Memory care is designed for people living with dementia, offering secure surroundings, dementia-trained team members, and programming built around cognitive needs.
Take the Next Steps in Your Loved One’s Care
Many families still aren’t sure whether it’s time to discuss memory care with their loved one, but local community teams are available to answer questions and discuss care options. If the time isn’t right, or if memory care isn’t the right fit, assisted living may provide a smoother transition, with team members who can help with personal care tasks in a private residential setting. By offering multiple levels of care, The Courtyard at Loves Park helps families make important care decisions with confidence.
This article should not replace medical advice. Talk with your doctor regarding any issues you may experience, especially if you suspect memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.
Schedule a Community Tour
If you are worried that your loved one has dementia, our care team would be honored to answer your questions and help you make the right plan for your loved one’s care. Schedule a tour at The Courtyard at Loves Park to see firsthand how a well-planned memory care community supports residents with memory loss.
