There are times when nearly all of us can’t remember where we’ve kept our keys or glasses. Forgetfulness, especially among the elderly, is rather common among individuals who are under stress or are on strong medicines. Typically, they do tend to be a passing nuisance of sorts. Inversely, progressive forgetfulness and altered behavior may point to dementia or some other ailments.

A recent study reports that 7.3% of adults older than 45 years of age in California experience some form of memory damage. Mild types of depressive disorders such as amnesia are resistant to most temporary measures. In cases where Mrs. Forgetful is suffering from dementia however, that forgetfulness may require a home with specialized care. A physician is able to determine how far the problem has gone and recommend ways of resolving it.

Is it an effect of Dementia or Normal Ageing?

Mild sleep deprivation, stressful circumstances or even multitasking are among some of the factors of everyday life that might lead to forgetfulness regardless of the age group. A recent study showed that at least half of the elderly population has some difficulties in recalling names of people or learning of the new skills and those, with an the advanced age seem to be affected the most. Quite frankly, those types of situation are generally not worrisome.

The interest about memory care from the elder populations and particularly their caregivers has grown in most recent years as a result of new perspectives physicians continue to have on the scenario. Forgetting rather specific things is many of the time part of the process as opposed to sickness. Because of one of the things, which is aging, the brain also gets old like every other part of the body, and at times, even well seniors do struggle to remember some specifics. Memory loss is only a cause of worry when it is such that it hinders an individual’s day to day life.

The National Institute on Aging however offers other thanilities as altt “Not all memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease, nor is there a continuum of two extremes that are forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s disease.” In this case, people may, at times, misplace particular items or forget some of the terms. Such slips might include some elderly forgetting to pay bills, forgetting what day it is, or even making some unreasonable mistakes but large amounts of these events are common due to aging.

On the other hand, individuals who have dementia tend to make poor decisions, are unable to pay their bills, cannot manage time, and are unable to engage others in a conversation. They often misplace things and are unable to locate them. These signs might be due to a disease, a mental disorder, or even physical factors. In cases where people have dementia, it is ineluctable that the condition will deteriorate, and older people will require the service of memory care specialists.

Discussing Memory Issues with A Healthcare Provider

When older patients frequently exhibit memory deficits, it is imperative to seek medical advice to rule out any significant condition. A person may forget things due to a variety of factors, but not all are pathological. Failure to recognize potential risk factors can lead to more serious problems in the future. Understanding the causes of memory loss should be done irrespective of the environment the elderly person is residing in, including assisted living and nursing homes.

For instance, memory problems are sometimes caused by reversible factors that require intervention. Drug side effects, thyroid conditions, or even vitamin insufficiencies may all contribute to this condition. The causes mentioned above may apply to most older adults as well, according to the Mayo Clinic. These facilities may also arrange for evaluation of any smoking cessation associated with their senior care services.

It’s advisable to accompany the elderly person to the doctor with a friend or relative who can assist them in recalling important information. This is necessary especially when the physician needs to determine the underlying causes of memory deficits. An assessment on the senior focused on essential issues:

Which medications are they taking?

When these issues started, was it in any way related to the use of a drug that was new? Which specific problems have become harder? How frequently do they drink alcoholic beverages? Whether they had been recently sick, or had a fall or head trauma Whether they have had any stress or are experiencing sadness recently A general health check-up by an MD may also include MRI of the brain. There are some tests that assess the cause of memory loss as well as its severity. These include assessments of varying degree of difficulty in the form of multiple choice items which require application and synthesis of knowledge and concepts.

Benefits of Timely Detection

As much as it is hard to live with dementia or loss of memory, it becomes more important to get accurate diagnosis as soon as is possible. There are many causes of loss of memory which are not permanent and timely diagnosis helps to ensure that the elderly are given the appropriate treatment. Their quality of life is affected when they are aided in identifying and controlling their symptoms.

To assess the issue of forgetfulness, doctors usually send elderly people to other health care providers such as neurologists, psychiatrists, or gerontologists. When dementia or mild cognitive impairment is detected, treatment can be started. Information about the condition can be acquired and preparations made by family members and the elderly people.

Discussions that families can have include the best options for senior living facilities in case the condition worsens. There is sufficient time to decide whether the person will be moved to an assisted living facility or obtain in house care. It is also a time to discuss the financial aspects that are involved.

Certain memory loss, such as that brought on by diseases such as dementia, is normal among the elderly, though some forgetfulness is a part of growing older. Memory issues in the senior’s population need one to be examined by a health care expert, and also whether the problem can be rectified even. There are also other possibilities for elders and their families because the course of treatment of advancing memory problems will depend on what is best for them.