One of the best ways to deal with something is early detection. Dementia is very complex and described along a scale. This scale was initially created as it is more comprehensive than stages. The terms are used to show how far someone's dementia has progressed. Defining someone's dementia is essential as it tells physicians what the best course of action is. This information would then be passed along to caregivers so they can understand how to best communicate with the patient. Commonly there is three stages which are early, moderate and advanced.
Dementia Australia outlines typical signs a person would display is they were on the scale.
Early dementia
Appear more apathetic, with less sparkle
Lose interest in hobbies and activities
Be unwilling to try new things
Be unable to adapt to change
Show poor judgement and make poor decisions
Be slower to grasp complex ideas and take longer with routine jobs
Blame others for “stealing” lost items
Become more self-centred and less concerned with others and their feelings
Become more forgetful of details of recent events
Be more likely to repeat themselves or lose the thread of their conversation
Be more irritable or upset if they fail at something
Have difficulty handling money.
Moderate dementia
Be more forgetful of recent events. Memory for the distant past generally seems better, but some details may be forgotten or confused
Be confused regarding time and place
Become lost if away from familiar surroundings
Forget names of family or friends, or confuse one family member with another
Forget saucepans and kettles on the stove. May leave gas unlit
Wander around streets, perhaps at night, sometimes becoming lost
Misbehave, for example going outdoors in nightwear
See or hear things that are not there
Become very repetitive
Be neglectful of hygiene or eating
Become angry, upset or distressed through frustration.
Advanced dementia
Be unable to remember occurrences for even a few minutes, for instance forgetting that they have just had a meal
Lose their ability to understand or use speech
Be incontinent
Show no recognition of friends and family
Need help with eating, washing, bathing, toileting and dressing
Fail to recognise everyday objects
Be disturbed at night
Be restless, perhaps looking for a long-dead relative
Be aggressive, especially when feeling threatened or closed in
Have difficulty walking, eventually maybe becoming a wheelchair user
Have uncontrolled movements
Have permanent immobility, and in the final weeks or months, the person will be bedridden.
Here is the link to the Dementia Australia website
Dementia Australia | Progression of dementia. https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/what-is-dementia/progression-of-dementia
Hopefully, this has given you the necessary tools on how to notice if someone is developing dementia. You can read more about the phases, how to test and how long each stage lasts from this website. https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/aboutdementia/facts/stages/
