![]() ![]() Too many medications can make people feel and act more confused Second, even if dementia has no cure, early diagnosis means that treatments will be more effective and could delay progression, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life.ģ. First, there are many treatable health conditions that cause dementia-like symptoms. The best thing to do is have them see their doctor for a thorough exam. When you notice your older adult struggling with memory, thinking, or judgement, it’s scary to think that they might have dementia.īecause it can be so hard to accept, many people hope that the symptoms will go away on their own or that they’re mistaken.īut the situation isn’t going to fix itself. Ignoring symptoms won’t make them go away But that will only lead to both of you arguing or getting upset.Īnd you simply can’t win an argument with someone who can no longer use reason or logic consistently.Ģ. It’s frustrating to hear things that aren’t true and instinctive to try to correct or remind. When they say things that don’t make sense or are clearly untrue, they believe what they’re saying because it’s what their brain is telling them. ![]() It’s not worth it to argue with someone who has dementiaĪlzheimer’s and dementia causes your older adult’s brain to malfunction. Here, we share highlights from Esther’s article along with some of our own insights.ġ. They’re tips from caregivers who have “been there and done that” that can lighten your load, reduce stress, and help you cope with the challenges. This advice isn’t meant to add pressure or expectations to your already tough job. In a helpful article at Verywell, social worker Esther Heerema shares 12 dementia care tips that caregivers have learned and wished they’d known sooner. There’s a lot to learn, but you don’t have to figure everything out the hard way. Next Step Get the free SAGE at-home test to detect signs of Alzheimer’s or dementiaġ2 dementia care tips from experienced caregiversĬaring for someone with dementia isn’t intuitive and doesn’t come naturally. If the cognitive impairment is caused by Alzheimer’s or dementia, a major benefit is that starting treatment early is far more effective in managing symptoms and delaying progression of the disease. Finding out sooner means getting treatment ASAP to eliminate the cognitive symptoms. The most important is that a treatable condition could be the cause of cognitive impairment. If the results seem to indicate that there could be a problem, you might think there’s no point in talking with the doctor because there’s no cure for dementia.īut an early Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis has significant benefits. The SAGE test is useful because it helps you understand if your concerns are something to be worried about. Why would anyone want an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis? If there are signs of cognitive impairment, they may recommend further testing. That’s why it’s important to bring the completed test to the doctor to have it reviewed. Being able to measure changes helps them detect and treat health conditions early. When the test is repeated over time, doctors can watch for changes in cognitive ability. The SAGE test is a screening tool that helps doctors detect early signs of cognitive impairment that are typically not noticeable during a normal office visit. On your clock, label “L” for the long hand and “S” for the short hand.ĭon’t assume that the test results are equal to a diagnosis of any kind. Draw a large face of a clock and place in the numbers.Position the hands for 10 minutes after 11 o’clock.Write down the names of 12 different animals.How much change would you receive back from a $20 bill? There’s no time limit, but most people finish in about 15 minutes. Print the test and take it with a pen or pencil. It’s free and you can get it here on the Ohio State University website.Ĭlick the “Download the Test” button, agree to the terms, and choose one of the 4 test versions in your older adult’s primary language to download (or save all 4 versions to your computer for future use). This way, the test is slightly different each time.Īnyone can take the SAGE test anytime. They’re similar enough, but having multiple versions means that someone could take the test once a year and wouldn’t improve their score each year just from the “practice” of taking it before. There are 4 different versions of the test. The SAGE test has 12 questions that cover all aspects of cognition, including memory, problem solving, and language. SAGE stands for Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination and was developed by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. ![]()
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