In 2024, it is estimated that more than 421,000 Australians live with dementia.
This progressive disorder affects brain function, leading to reduced cognitive abilities, forgetfulness, and changes in behaviour. It's crucial to recognise the early symptoms so you can seek medical advice and treatment.
Common early symptoms may include:
1. Memory Loss
2. Poor Decision-Making
3. Difficulty Performing Routine Activities
4. Struggles with Communication
5. Changes in Personality and Behaviour
6. Lack of Motivation
7. Repetitive Actions
1. Memory Loss
Memory loss that disrupts daily life is one of the more common early signs of dementia. While it is normal for everyone to forget things sometimes—for example, you might forget an appointment now and then—a person in the early stages of dementia may forget things more often.
Early signs of memory loss include:
- Difficulty recalling recent events
- Misplacing objects
- Trouble finding objects
- Forgetting familiar names
These symptoms may be subtle, but they can gradually worsen over time.
2. Impaired Judgement
Poor judgment and reasoning can show signs of cognitive decline. They may be early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, like vascular dementia. If a person is having trouble making decisions, they might start making choices that are different from their own.
Poor decisions can include:
- Inability to manage finances
- Inability to manage personal hygiene
- Inability to identify hazards
- Inability to drive safely
Poor judgment can occur before memory loss as an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. As time goes on, reasoning and judgment can be significantly affected. They may get worse as the disease progresses.
3. Challenges with Day-to-Day Tasks
If a person begins to forget how to do familiar tasks, this may be an early sign of dementia. A subtle change to how they behave in their daily life usually starts with more complex tasks rather than simple ones, including:
- Keeping track of bills
- Following a recipe Playing a game with lots of rules
- Balancing a chequebook
A person showing early signs of dementia may struggle with familiar tasks. They might also lose interest in their hobbies and passions. Additionally, they can have trouble learning new things. Adapting to changes in their environment can be challenging for them. Following new routines may also be challenging.
4. Difficulty Communicating
Individuals who experience cognitive decline or show early-onset dementia symptoms may struggle to express themselves verbally and have trouble understanding others. Communication difficulties can manifest in a variety of ways, including the following:
- Struggling to find the right words
- Forget simple words
- Becoming easily confused
- Losing track in conversations
Struggling to share one's thoughts can cause frustration, loneliness, and confusion among loved ones.
5. Shifts in Personality & Behaviour
As we age, our behaviour and reactions to our environment often change. Small and gradual changes in a person's personality and behaviour can be warning signs. These changes may indicate early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Changes in behaviour can include:
- Rapid mood swings
- Aggression or agitation
- Self-isolation Inappropriate social behaviour
The early stages of Frontotemporal dementia usually cause changes to an individual’s personality and behaviour. These changes can be subtle and complex to notice initially, but they can become more pronounced over time.6. Demotivation
Demotivation is a common early sign of dementia that is often overlooked. Losing interest in activities that used to be fun may show that the brain is having trouble processing information. It might also mean it struggles to connect with the world around it. Some behaviours that an individual is losing motivation as a result of early onset dementia can include:- Disinterest in hobbies and passions
- Trouble handling usual responsibilities
- Difficulty with managing emotions
- Difficulty planning or solving problems
If not noticed, diagnosed, or treated early, demotivation can lower the quality of life. This can cause stress and confusion for both the person showing early signs of dementia and their loved ones. Helping loved ones stay active and engaged through physical and mental exercises can keep their minds sharp and may also delay the start of dementia symptoms.
7. Repetitive Behaviour
- Repeating questions or statements
- Performing the same actions or tasks repeatedly
- Obsessively checking things like lights, locks, or appliances
Seeking a professional diagnosis
For more information and resources about dementia, visit Living with Dementia on the Dementia Australia website.
Specialised dementia support from Just Better Care
Our knowledgeable and experienced team members can provide reliable advice, reassurance, and support for people with dementia and their loved ones.
We take a very personalised approach and aim to help people manage their symptoms while continuing to do things they enjoy.
Personalised Dementia Support services from Just Better Care can include:
- Assisting with daily activities at home.
- Encouraging engagement.
- Promoting healthy eating.
- Creating opportunities for social interaction.
- Providing dignity in care.
- Support with day-to-day activities.
- Supporting families and loved ones.
Are you caring for someone who has just been diagnosed with dementia?
Caring for someone with dementia may involve various tasks, varying or increasing over time as the person’s needs change.
The demands on carers, family members, and existing supports will also increase over time and may become more challenging to manage. Introducing professional supports, such as those available at Just Better Care, can start with one or two home visits a week and progress to around-the-clock care if necessary.
If you or a loved one is beginning to find everyday tasks difficult, it may be time to seek assistance
Why choose in-home dementia care?
For people living with dementia and their families, receiving support at home can be very beneficial. Familiar settings and routines can reduce the confusion, anxiety, fear, and stress experienced by persons living with dementia. These feelings can sometimes result in disruptive behaviour and further stress.
Having a support worker visit daily or regularly can help people with dementia continue living in their homes or those of family members' homes and remain independent in a familiar environment.
It can also give family members peace of mind, knowing their loved one receives support from a skilled and qualified professional.
We understand needs arise at any point. Please reach out to our team to see how we support you with specialised dementia support at home
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