Help With Aging Parents

Many adults question their memory as they get older and wonder if losing their keys is a part of normal or healthy aging.  Recently, the Alzheimer’s Association came out with a list of 10 signs to help distinguish between what is normal and what is not with your memory as you age. 
So, what is normal and what isn’t?

Typical/Normal
1. Sometimes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later
2. Making small errors sometimes when balancing a checkbook
3. Sometimes needing help with recording a TV show or help with microwave settings
4. Getting confused what day of the week it is but later figuring out what day it is
5. Visual changes due to cataracts or other eye problems
6. Sometimes having a difficult time coming up with a word while in conversations
7. Misplacing things once in a while such as the remote control or eyeglasses
8. Sometimes making a bad decision
9. Sometimes feeling of weary of family, work or other obligations
10. Developing a routine of how to do certain things and getting irritable when the routine is done a different way

What could be signs of Alzheimer’s?
1. Memory changes that disrupt life – Asking information repeatedly
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems – May have difficulty following a familiar recipe 3. Difficulty completing tasks at home or work – May have trouble finding the location of a     place or remembering the rules of a favorite game
4. Confusion with time or place – Sometimes they forget where they are or how they got there
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships – They may have trouble reading or judging distances
6. New problems with words with speaking or writing – May have trouble following or joining a conversation
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps – A person with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places and not remember where they put it
8. Decreased or poor judgment – They may use poor judgment when dealing with money such as giving large amounts of money to telemarketers
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities – They may have trouble remembering how to do their favorite hobby
10. Changes in mood and personality – They may become confused, suspicious, depressed, etc.

For more information on differences between normal and healthy aging vs. dementia, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or call their 24 hour helpline at 800-272-3900.