keeping the peace during a nursing home transition

One of the biggest challenges you can ever have is when your spouse gets dementia. While dementia is an incurable condition, if you catch it early, your spouse can still live a mostly normal life for many years. Here are some of the signs that you should look for. If you notice more than one of these, or if one of them is particularly acute, check with a neurologist to discuss different dementia care options. 

Forgetting things that they normally would remember.

Most people associate Alzheimer's disease with forgetfulness because it is a classic symptom. But just because your spouse is forgetful, it doesn't mean that they've got dementia. Pay attention and if they lose memories that they don't typically forget -- for example, they can't remember where they went to elementary school -- this could be a sign that they have the early stages of dementia.

Personality change

A sudden personality change is something that can be a symptom of many neurological diseases, from depression to dementia to a brain tumor. If you notice a personality shift, talk with them to explore some of the different possibilities and look at treatment options.

Misplacing things

If your spouse starts misplacing their wallet, keys, or other personal effects, they may be suffering from the initial effects of dementia. While people often forget where they placed a certain object, if you notice it happening on a regular basis, you will want to broach the subject with them and go to a doctor for further evaluation.

Short term memory problems

While people associate the loss of long-term memory with Alzheimer's and dementia, one of the symptoms of dementia is actually a loss of short-term memories. If your spouse is having problems remembering what they did earlier today or even a few minutes ago, you will want to watch for some of the other symptoms or see if it happens more frequently.

Loss of interest in their hobbies

As people age, they can change their hobbies and interests over time, but if they suddenly lose interest in things that they have loved doing for years and those hobbies aren't replaced with something else, it may be a sign that they have the opening stages of dementia and need to be looked at by a specialist.

If your spouse has any of these symptoms, watch closely and see what you can do to get them the assistance that they need so that they can live their life as best as possible.