Seeing potential signs of dementia in your spouse? The first thing you should do is see your primary care physician. Because they know your spouse and their medical history well, your family doctor should be able to quickly notice behaviors or symptoms that are out of the ordinary.
One of the challenges that many people caring for a parent with dementia face at some point is their parent’s refusal to accept care. When this happens to you, it might feel like your parent just wants to be difficult, but this resistance actually comes from the symptoms of dementia and the accompanying impaired mental functions. What comes off as stubbornness is often confusion, fear, stress or anxiety. It’s a frustrating experience, to be sure, but there are a few steps you can take to alleviate your parent’s concerns and make caregiving a more positive experience for you both.Â