printable short stories for seniors with dementia

You can help by laying out their clothing in the morning.

They could get confused about what kind of clothes to wear for the day or season.

They might have trouble remembering their address, phone number, or where they went to school. Your loved one might start to lose track of where they are and what time it is. Make sure they aren't driving anymore, and that no one tries to take advantage of them financially. You can help with everyday chores and their safety.

Struggle to do tasks with multiple steps like cleaning the house.

Have trouble cooking meals or even ordering from a menu.

Have trouble putting the right date and amount on a check.

You can also suggest they ease stress by retiring from work and putting their legal and financial affairs in order.ĭuring this period, the problems in thinking and reasoning that you noticed in stage 3 get more obvious, and new issues appear. You can help by being your loved one's 'memory' for them, making sure they pay bills and get to appointments on time.

Can't remember names when meeting new people.

Has more and more trouble making plans or organizing.

It's at this point that you start to notice changes in your loved one's thinking and reasoning, such as: Keep in mind that these symptoms might not be Alzheimer's at all, but simply normal changes from aging. This could include forgetting words or misplacing objects.Īt this stage, subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's don't interfere with their ability to work or live independently. You still might not notice anything amiss in your loved one's behavior, but they may be picking up on small differences, things that even a doctor doesn't catch. Only a PET scan, an imaging test that shows how the brain is working, can reveal whether they have Alzheimer's.Īs they move into the next six stages, your friend or relative with Alzheimer's will see more and more changes in their thinking and reasoning.

When your loved one is in this early phase, they won't have any symptoms that you can spot.

Stage 1: Normal Outward BehaviorĪlzheimer’s disease usually starts silently, with brain changes that begin years before anyone notices a problem. There are no hard-and-fast lines between mild and moderate stages, but over time, you can expect changes like the ones below. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, so it can help to know what to expect so you can plan to meet your loved one’s needs in each stage. Doctors call these different stages the progression of the disease. The stages don't always fall into neat boxes, and the symptoms might vary - but they can be a guide and help you plan for your friend or relative's care.

Printable short stories for seniors with dementia