One of the early signs that many family members notice is difficulty with financial or other tasks which require "complex thinking". You have to compare this to a baseline (i.e. if your Dad always handled the bills and checkbook, but has now begun missing payments) and "getting scammed" is not always an indication of dementia. However, these indicators may warrant some changes, before bigger problems occur.
Some signs to watch for if you are worried about memory loss (these can also go hand-in-hand with physical impairments or other senior care issues):
- Spoiled food in the refrigerator, difficulty preparing meals or dealing with appliances properly, forgetting to turn off the stove.
- Missed appointments, trouble remembering dates and managing tasks and to-do's.
- Significant changes in appearance and personal care.
- Significant changes in household maintenance/care and cleanliness.
- Medication misuse (signs might include unfilled prescriptions, pill bottles in disarray, inability to explain what a medicine is for or when/how it is to be taken).
- For more signs, grab a free copy of our "Warning Signs" evaluation checklist:
