Advanced Home Care Experts Explain the Stages of Memory Loss
When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, noticing the following stages of memory loss can help you and your loved one research advanced home care options that can help with dementia in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Marina and surrounding areas in California
When considering advanced home care options or nursing homes for a loved one who is showing signs of cognitive decline, understanding what they are going through can help you make a sound decision regarding their future care.
The following stages of memory loss are based on the well-known Reisberg Scale, also known as Global Deterioration Scale or GDS.
Stage 1: Normal/Without Impairment
Stage 1 is actually characterized by the absence of memory loss, meaning a person is mentally healthy and able to function normally.
Stage 2: Very Mild Forgetfulness
This stage is characterized by common, fairly ordinary age-related forgetfulness. While seniors may sometimes forget names or displace objects, the symptoms of dementia are still not present.
Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive changes slowly but surely start to appear by stage 3, becoming more noticeable to family and friends. A person is able to maintain their daily routine independently, but symptoms such as increased forgetfulness, difficulties with concentration, and decreased work performance become apparent.
As this is also a stage where initial testing usually occurs, please make sure to encourage your loved one to get tested.
Stage 4: Moderate Dementia
As dementia takes hold, regular daily tasks such as shopping, cleaning, or meal preparation may be hard to tackle without assistance. By this time, forgetfulness and memory issues are amplified, even affecting speech. Avoiding socialization or being in denial about one’s mental faculties also happens quite often.
Diagnosis in stage 4 is very accurate, as testing can clearly show the signs of cognitive decline.
Stage 5: Moderately Severe Dementia
Progressing to severe dementia, most seniors rely on ample assistance from family caregivers or advanced home care professionals to make it through their daily routine. Often, memory loss is apparent to such an extent that a person may not recall basic information like their phone number or home address. It is evident that by this stage leading an independent life at home becomes impossible.
Stage 6: Severe Dementia
As seniors in stage 6 need help with dressing, bathing, toileting, and all sorts of activities, having full-time care is a must for most people. Safety is a major concern as those with dementia are prone to wandering as well. Behavioral and emotional changes can be quite disturbing, as those afflicted tend to become increasingly paranoid and hostile.
Stage 7: Very Severe Dementia
In the final stage of dementia, seniors require full-time assistance and monitoring whether from an advanced home care agency or from professionals in an assisted living facility. A patient in the final stage of dementia loses basic motor control such as ability to walk, eat, and communicate. Moreover, they may become unaware of their surroundings and even unable to recognize their children and loved ones.
Early detection is not only pivotal to managing the progression of dementia, but it will also give your family valuable time to plan your loved one’s care better, whether you opt for advanced home care services, assisted living or care provided by friends and family.
If in-home dementia care is the best option for your loved one, count on Visiting Angels Central Coast. We’ve helped many seniors in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas get the comprehensive support they need to manage their symptoms in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.
Call our Scotts Valley, CA office to learn more.