When should you be concerned about memory loss?

Seniors Health and Wellness Institute has over 44 different workshops that we give but one of the most requested workshops is a workshop on Memory and Ageing. As we age many of us are nervous when we start to forget things. We could forget where we put our glasses, our keys or why we walked into a room. As we get older, we believe that being forgetful or having bad eyesight, hearing is often associated with ageing. What we don’t think about is that these attributes are so often stereotypes of ageing and are a subtle form of ageism.

Having said that there can be times to think about getting help for yourself or a loved one when memory and forgetfulness become a problem. In order to understand what is normal memory loss and what type of memory loss requires attention, we start on a journey to find as much information as possible.

Common age-related memory lapses aren’t the same thing as having Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. If you or your loved one exhibits any of the following behaviours it may be a time to consider getting help. Someone without Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is certainly capable of any of these behaviours. It’s the frequency with which memory lapses happen and the degree to which these lapses make life unsafe that you want to watch out for. You or they:

· leave things unfinished.

· get lost in familiar places.

· are unable to recall recent conversations.

· leave the stove on after cooking a meal, or forget they’re cooking and let the food burn.

· blank on familiar information, like street names and names of people they know.

· end up in places and can’t recall how they got there.

· regularly make mistakes on things like paying bills and filling out forms.

· don’t remember instances when their memory impairment caused a problem.

· forget words or repeat phrases or stories in the same conversation.

· show uncharacteristically poor social behaviour or lapse in judgment.

If you have a loved one or you find that you have a large frequency of the above occurring, then what do you do? It’s completely expected and understandable that you want to continue to function normally for as long as possible, so you or they may be in denial that their memory loss is a cause for serious concern.

If you feel you have to talk to a loved one about memory loss, approach them about their memory care with love, patience, understanding and good intention. Try to avoid confrontation; be aware that their memory loss is just as difficult for them to handle as it is for you, if not more.

If you have been approached by a loved one about your memory loss try to remember that they are talking to you out of love and concern so be willing to listen. I end the workshop with this thought. Remember, if you are concerned about your memory loss that is normal, but if others are concerned about your memory and you don’t think you have a memory problem, then you need to listen and to act.