If someone asked you how to spot the early signs of dementia what would your answer be? One of the most common answers would be memory loss. However, there are so many more symptoms that you might be missing.
Dementia is the overall term which has over 200 subtypes. Some forms are more common than others. The top five are Alzheimers disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Bodies dementia, Frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.
Dementia is the biggest killer in the UK. Sadly, there are currently over 850,000 people diagnosed with some form of dementia in the UK alone. Its a disease that doesn’t discriminate and whilst it can affect you at any age, it’s more common in the over 65s. Many people believe that dementia sufferers must live in a care home. But what if there was a way that they could live safely in their own home. Companies like https://careforfamily.com.au/ offer dedicated supportive care to allow this to be an option.
If continuing to live at home isn’t an option, places such as The Chelsea at Greenburgh could be. They offer active living for seniors in Westchester County. Their rental community provides accommodations and amenities for assisted living, and memory care as well as short stays. With so many different options, it is worth checking them out.
One notable person who suffered from dementia was the late Barbara Windsor. Despite suffering with the disease herself, she campaigned to raise awareness and much needed funds for dementia research.
With people now living longer, dementia is on the rise. Its estimated that by 2025, over one million people will be living with some form of dementia. This is a terrifying thought so please familiarise yourself with some of the early symptoms.
What are the common early signs?
Despite there being so many different forms of dementia, there are some common early signs shown throughout the majority of types. Its important that you know them so that you can spot the signs in loved ones or yourself. Whilst there is currently no cure for dementia, spotting these signs and getting a confirmed diagnosis can be so beneficial. There is a great support system out there that will help guide you through each of the stages of dementia. I wrote a guest post for Kayleigh Zara earlier in the year all about how to cope with grieving for someone twice. In that post I go into a lot more depth about the different stages of dementia, so please give that a read too.
Someone with the early signs of dementia may have difficulty with the following:
- Memory loss
- Mental sharpness and quickness
- Judgement
- They may struggle with speaking, may use words incorrectly or might have difficulty in understanding things you say
- Suffer from mood swings
- Lack of concentration
- Find it difficult to do certain movements
- Find it difficult to do daily activities
- Suffer from hallucinations
- Find social situations more difficult
- Loose interest in doing their usual activities
You may also notice that they are asking the same questions repeatedly or are perhaps forgetting people’s names.
Why is it important to know these signs?
It is important to get help if you spot any of these signs. Whilst there is currently no cure, an early diagnosis can slow down the disease. It can mean that you live a more normal life for longer and you can get any support you may need.
I have been on this dementia journey with my nan for over five years. In that time, I’ve had highs and lows but have found so much support too. Its part of the reason why I want to raise more awareness and donations. If you or a loved one have had a diagnosis, whether in the early or later stages, please know that there is support out there for you.
There are some amazing Facebook groups that support dementia sufferers and their families. Its a space where you can ask questions, no matter how silly they might feel, because they all understand. I also want you to know that I am always here for you. Feel free to ask questions below, or contact me on social media. I’d like to help you as much as I can, even if you just need a listening and understanding ear.
I hope you have found this post helpful in some way. If you take one thing away from this post, I hope it is that it can happen to any of us. I would urge you to share it with your followers, friends and family. The more people that know about these early signs, the more lives we can improve.
The Kelly Diane Report 
I didn’t know all these signs of dementia. Thanks for sharing. 😀
LikeLike
Dementia is so common these days. I was not aware of all you mention as possible symptoms. It feels so discouraging to understand that someone close to you is against it. Thank you for raising awareness on this issue!
LikeLike
Really helpful post Kelly and I’m sorry about your Nan. I’ve luckily not experienced Dementia in any of my Grandparents but have with my boyfriend’s Nan, who sadly passed away this year. It was awful to hear about how she was at the end, it’s such a cruel disease. I didn’t actually know there were so many different types.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this. As a professional caregiver for the elderly, I have had many clients with Dementia and it can be so very difficult.
But I have also experienced this awful disease on a personal level as my grandfather also had Alzheimer’s.
I appreciate your candor and insight.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this and spreading awareness of dementia, it’s so important x
LikeLike
Where can I find a deep-dive about all 7 stages of dementia/ I read your linked post and it only seemed to cover 4-7. Thanks.
LikeLike
This post has been incredibly helpful for me, in my family we’ve had suspicions that my Nan maybe in early onset dementia, this post has really helped me learn about the sign to look out for x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
LikeLike
Thank you for spreading awareness! Early detection of dementia can certainly help with quality of life.
LikeLike
This is such a helpful post! I lost my dear mother-in-law a few years ago to this disease and it really is such a tragedy. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
This is such a useful post. I’ll definitly be keeping these signs in mind going forward. They make so much sense now that I know my grandfather had it.
LikeLike
This was a really helpful post Kelly. I’ve had a few distant relatives with dementia but nothing that has drastically impacted me directly. I think it’s really important that everyone learns to spot the symptoms of dementia early like you say. So sorry to here that your Nan has suffered with dementia, sending lots of love x
LikeLike
This is such an important post! It’s definitely crucial that we learn to recognise the signs so treatment can be started earlier on, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for all of these. Thanks for sharing x
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this information as it will help people to catch it earlier and get the support they need. My great aunt had dementia and it was hard to seen her decline. There were signs of it but it can get dismissed as just “old age”. Thank you writing about this!
LikeLike
Such an important topic to become more aware of. Thank you for sharing this post. You shared some important points to stay aware of when dealing with this difficult diagnosis Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately I have had loved who have endured this.
Pastor Natalie
Letstakeamoment.com
LikeLike
It is great that you shared the things to look out for. My nan has dementia and I can recognise these attributes.
LikeLike
Thanks for this list. I read and write a lot about dementia, and I found your post insightful.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this. This is going to help so many people and I want to help by sharing it as much as possible!
Rosie
https://www.loverosiee.co.uk
LikeLike
This is a beautiful post, very informative – thank you. It’s so important to know the signs, it can help so many people!
xo Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
LikeLike