If your loved one has seemed a little different lately, you may be wondering about dementia. The early signs of dementia can be subtle, and they vary from person to person. Here's what families often notice first, and what you can do next.
Dementia is more than everyday forgetfulness
Everyone forgets things sometimes, and misplacing your keys or forgetting a name isn't usually a sign of dementia.
Dementia Australia explains that dementia involves ongoing changes that, over time, start to affect everyday life in noticeable ways.
The signs below are worth noticing when they happen more often, or keep getting worse.
Common early signs of dementia
Family and friends often notice small changes before anyone else. Dementia Australia and healthdirect describe several early signs.
Changes in memory
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Forgetting recent conversations or events
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Asking the same question several times
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Struggling to remember new information
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Forgetting names or numbers they once knew easily
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The person may lose track of the steps in a recipe they've cooked for years. They might stop partway through housework, or find paying bills harder.
Remembering a PIN or a familiar password may also become difficult.
Confusion about time and place
They may be unsure what day or time it is. Some people have trouble finding their way to familiar places, or feel unsure how to get home.
Changes in language
Finding the right word can become harder. Conversations may be difficult to follow, and writing can change too.
Changes in mood and behaviour
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Mood swings with no clear reason
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Becoming more suspicious, fearful or withdrawn
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Losing interest in hobbies or catch-ups they used to enjoy
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Poorer judgement, for example with money or safety
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Less initiative to start everyday tasks
Signs can look different in each person
Memory loss isn't always the first change. For some people, the earliest signs show up in mood, behaviour, planning or language.
Dementia is a term for a group of conditions, and each can affect people differently. That's why it helps to look at the overall pattern, rather than one moment on its own.
Other conditions can look like dementia
Not all memory loss is dementia. The healthdirect website lists several conditions that can cause similar symptoms:
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Depression
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Delirium
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Thyroid problems
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Side effects from medicines
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Low vitamin B12
Some of these can be treated, which is one reason seeing a doctor early is worthwhile, whatever the cause.
What to do if you're worried
Raising your concerns can feel hard. These steps can help you take it gently, with the person at the centre of every decision.
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Write down what you've noticed, with examples and roughly when the changes started.
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Choose a quiet time to talk with the person about how they've been feeling.
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Encourage them to book a GP appointment, and offer to go with them.
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With their agreement, take your notes along to the appointment.
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Ask the GP what happens next, such as tests or a referral to a specialist.
Focus on how the person is feeling, rather than listing things they've forgotten. It's their health and their appointment, so let them lead where they can.
An early diagnosis helps doctors manage the condition sooner, according to healthdirect. It also gives the person time to understand what's happening and find support.
Where to find reliable information
You don't need a diagnosis to ask for advice. These services can help you understand what you're seeing and what comes next.
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National Dementia Helpline: call 1800 100 500 for free, confidential advice, available 24 hours a day (Dementia Australia)
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Your GP: the best first step to look into changes in memory or thinking
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My Aged Care: call 1800 200 422 if you or your loved one is 65 or over and needs help at home
If you'd like an interpreter, Dementia Australia suggests calling 131 450 for language assistance.
Talk to us about in-home support
At HomeCaring, we're a registered Support at Home provider, trusted by more than 10,000 people and their families. We support people living with dementia and their families to keep everyday life going at home.
We can't diagnose dementia, but we can talk you through the support available once you know more. Our teams speak 16+ languages, and we'll explain things in the way that suits you best.
Tell us what you've noticed, and we'll walk you through your options, with no pressure to decide. Reach out to our Care Specialists on 1300 875 377.
