What Impacts Does Early Stage Dementia Have?

If your elderly loved one has early-stage dementia, it is important to learn all you can about what is going to happen. The first thing that you might want to know is that in the earlier stages of dementia the patient usually knows they have the disease. This can cause so many different emotions from day-to-day. The symptoms that your elderly loved one has can vary from day-to-day, as well. Some days they might need help from you and elderly care providers and some days they might not. Keep reading here to learn more about the impacts of early-stage dementia.

Impacts on Your Elderly Loved One

This disease is going to impact your elderly loved one. At first, your elderly loved one might not have that many symptoms. Their symptoms might come and go, too. However, there are some common things that elderly people experience during early-stage dementia. Some of these things include the following:

Elderly Care in Park Slope NY
  • Forgetting things (ex. forgetting where they put their keys)
  • Getting lost in places they are familiar with (ex. getting lost in grocery stores or their favorite park)
  • Not being able to keep track of time (ex. thinking it is the evening when it is only early afternoon)
  • Being in denial
  • Being fearful of what is going to happen

If your elderly loved one is in this stage of their dementia, it is important to give them all the support they need. This might include you and/or elderly care providers helping them to keep doctor’s appointments, managing their finances, reminding them to take medications, and helping them to recall things they are forgetting.

Impacts on the Family Caregivers

If you are a family caregiver of someone that has early-stage dementia, you are going to be affected, as well. It is a good idea to be prepared for how your elderly loved one’s disease might affect you. Some of the ways that it could affect you include the following:

  • Feeling fearful, anxious, stressed, or uncertain about what is going to happen
  • Feeling frustrated, angry, and resentful
  • Feeling like you are losing control of everything
  • Feeling sad and depressed
  • Being in denial

If your elderly loved one is in early-stage dementia, there are some things you can do to help yourself. Some of these things include practicing self-care, getting professional mental help (if needed), going to a support group, and educating yourself more on this disease.

Conclusion

Dementia affects the person who has the disease and those who are taking care of them. Many family caregivers don’t realize how much this disease will affect them. However, now that you know more about how early-stage dementia can affect your elderly loved one and yourself, you can get everyone the help and support that is needed.

Sources
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/dementia-early-signs
https://medlineplus.gov/dementia.html

If you are considering elderly care in Park Slope, NY, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts At Home of NYC today at 212-201-6139.

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