As a family caregiver, you likely know your parent better than anybody. This means you are familiar with their personality, and can often predict, or at least understand, their moods. While it is normal for people to experience fluctuations in their mood, and even have changes in their personality as they get older, serious alterations in the way your parent behaves, or their usual mood and outlook, could be an indication of something more serious. These changes could be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, and should not be ignored.
Some of the changes in mood or personality that could be an indicator of early stages of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Frequent confusion.
- Depression that is unusual for them or that seems particularly severe or long-lasting.
- A suspicion that is not related to any particular situation or action or that comes from a misinterpretation of situations, such as thinking their neighbors want to hurt them, or the people at a restaurant are trying to poison them.
- Feeling fearful, or not feeling safe in situations when they used to. This might mean them not wanting to be alone in their home, or asking for you to stay with them at night.
- Being anxious when they are out of comfortable situations.
- Easily getting upset or irritated.
It is not uncommon for elderly adults to get extremely set in their ways. They may develop habits, or have strong preferences in their daily activities and routines. If these routines or habits are disrupted, it can result in anxiety, irritability, and an overall bad mood. This is normal, and not necessarily an indicator of any change in their cognitive functioning. If you feel you’re senior has experienced major shifts in their mood or personality, however, it may be time to have a discussion with their doctor about the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease. Early detection is key to getting your senior the care and management that is right for them throughout the progression of their disease.
Being a family caregiver means wanting what’s best for your aging loved one.
This means addressing their needs from all perspectives, including physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. Taking on all of the needs of a senior as a whole individual can be challenging and overwhelming, but fortunately, home care can help.
Introducing an in-home senior care services provider into your care routine with your parent means giving them access to care that manages their challenges while also emphasizing their abilities and promoting independence and quality of life. This can include safe and reliable transportation, helping your parent handle activities of daily living such as cleaning their home, doing laundry, and running errands, personal care tasks such as bathing and toileting, meal preparation, medication reminders, and more.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering a Caregiver in Rockridge, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Source:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers
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