About 64% of people 65 and older in nursing homes have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. While there’s no cure for these cognitive diseases, there are a wide variety of treatments and skilled nursing facilities intended to deal specifically with these types of patients. And knowing the signs of dementia can help you to take action if you notice them in a loved one. Here are just a few potential early warning signs of dementia to be aware of.
Struggling to find the right words
Communication issues are one of the most common signs of early onset dementia. Whether your loved one can’t find the right words or they’re struggling to communicate in a different way, this may be a sign that it’s time to look for skilled nursing facilities.
“Another early symptom of dementia is struggling to communicate thoughts. A person with dementia may have difficulty explaining something or finding the right words to express themselves. Having a conversation with a person who has dementia can be difficult, and it may take longer than usual to conclude,” write Valencia Higuera and Mary Ellen Ellis on Healthline.
Severe or sudden mood shifts
The first baby boomers turned 65 in 2011, starting a trend of relative growth within the senior population that will continue until 2030. As your loved one gets older, they may undergo a change in demeanor. This is quite normal, but if mood changes become sudden or severe, it could be a sign that something more serious is wrong.
Difficulty carrying out everyday tasks
Finally, if your loved one starts to have more and more difficulty carrying out what should be simple tasks, it may be time to start looking for care facilities that specialize in working with dementia patients.
According to data from the American Health Care Association, there are 15,655 skilled nursing care centers in the United States, so if you do recognize one or more of these symptoms in your loved one, don’t panic. It’s easy to find a skilled nursing care or rehab facility that keeps the physical and mental health and wellbeing of each and every patient in mind. For more information about long term care facilities, contact Manor Grove.
