I was at the gym when I received a call from my 83-year-old mother. There was urgency in her voice, “Gerardo, can you come home as soon as you can.” In the background, I heard the high-pitched pinging of the smoke detector.
I rushed home. After entering the garage, I was greeted by the pinging smoke detector and the smell of something severely burnt. I went into the kitchen and on top of the stove was a blackened package of 90-second microwavable rice.
I disabled the smoke detector and looked at the microwave. The package of rice got so hot; it melted a hole in the interior of the microwave.
The time on the microwave showed 45:00. Much to my shock, my mother had entered 90 minutes instead of 90 seconds. I observed several slips in my mom’s cognitive capability the past few months. However, this was the most serious.
It can be discouraging to watch your parents lose their cognitive abilities. Since it’s one of the first signs of continual memory loss, it’s a very hopeless feeling.
The transition of becoming a caregiver to the person that once took care of you can be even more difficult. With the number of emotions, you’re feeling all at once, taking care of an aging parent can be very overwhelming.
I use my experience with my mother to remind you you’re not alone. Many of us are going through similar situations, and there are ways to get through the journey.
Even so, there are resources available to help you. If you’ve been noticing a parent showing symptoms of cognitive decline, don’t wait. Reach out for help and start the process of supporting your parent. Here’s how to help a parent suffering from cognitive decline.
Cognitive Decline
Also known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), this refers to the stage between natural aging and decline resulting from Dementia. It relates to symptoms of memory loss, thinking struggles, loss of judgment, or language issues. The line between the two can be challenging to define. It can depend on age and knowledge of cognitive decline.
A person with mild cognitive impairment may know their memory is beginning to decline. Friends and family may make observances and bring them up to their loved ones.
This doesn’t automatically mean the person has something more severe like Dementia. Memory loss is expected with age, but it may still require basic caregiving.
Symptoms
Your brain is a vital organ. Like everything else in your body, it deteriorates with age and starts to slow down. Even at a young age, mild forgetfulness is normal.
Taking more time to recall a person’s name is not a cause for concern. With that said, if memory problems happen consistently, it may be time to see a doctor.
It should be noted having MCI doesn’t mean your parent has Dementia or Alzheimer’s. While it can be a symptom of either of these diseases, it could simply be a sign of old age. If you’ve noticed your parent exhibiting the following symptoms regularly, please see a medical professional:
- Forgetting important appointments or social events.
- Your loved one gets overwhelmed when making decisions, planning steps, accomplishing a task, or understanding instructions.
- Forgetfulness.
- They lose their train of thought daily.
- Frequent loss of direction around familiar environments.
- They start becoming impulsive and showing poor judgment.
Your parent may also be experiencing other mental health symptoms as a result of their memory loss:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Aggression and/or irritability
- Apathy
Causes
Unfortunately, there’s no definitive cause of Mild Cognitive Impairment. There’s also no predictable outcome for the disorder. Your parent’s symptoms could remain stable until their passing.
But, their symptoms could also lead to Dementia or Alzheimer’s. In some instances, your parent’s memory could improve after receiving care.
Current evidence suggests that MCI comes from the same brain changes in patients with Alzheimer’s. This doesn’t mean your parent is guaranteed to acquire a form of Dementia. It’s just something to be aware of. Autopsies performed on people with MCI have shown the following:
- Abnormal clumps of plaques of beta-amyloid protein. There have also been observations of microscopic protein clumps of tau characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. These are also known as tangles.
- Reduced blood flow through brain blood vessels or small strokes.
- Lewy bodies. These are microscopic clumps of another protein associated with Parkinson’s disease. These have also been seen in cases of Dementia with Lewy bodies and some cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnosis
There’s no specific way to diagnose Mild Cognitive Impairment or any other form of memory loss. A medical professional will oversee your parent’s symptoms based on your information. From there, they’ll confirm a formal diagnosis based on various tests. A doctor will diagnose MCI based on the following criteria:
- Memory problems, trouble following instructions or making decisions, or difficulty making plans.
- Mental status testing confirms a mild amount of impairment for your parent’s education level and age. Doctors will make a formal diagnosis based on a variety of tests. Some of these include the Short Test of Mental Status, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), or the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Further detailed neuropsychological testing can determine the severity of memory impairment.
- They know it isn’t Dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Your parent’s quality of life hasn’t been affected. Certain symptoms may inconvenience your parent, but it isn’t enough to make it difficult for them to live independently.
- Your parent’s cognitive abilities have declined over time.
A doctor may also perform several neurological exams to confirm their diagnosis. These will test your parent’s brain and nervous system. These can also catch other neurological disorders that affect memory, like strokes, tumors, or Parkinson’s Disease. They’ll do this by testing your parent’s balance, reflexes, and eye movements. From there, they’ll perform tests that include the following:
- Lab tests
- MRI or CT scan
- Mental status testing
Treatment
Unfortunately, there are currently no FDA-approved treatment methods for Mild Cognitive Impairment. With that said, lots of research continues to be conducted to improve the lives of those living with memory loss.
Clinical studies are being done to understand MCI and other memory disorders better. These studies will help treat and prevent MCI, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
What Can I Do?
If you’ve been noticing an alarming amount of cognitive decline in your parent, you may have no idea where to begin. Cases range in severity, whether that means they’re diagnosed with MCI or Alzheimer’s disease.
You may feel hopeless, alone, and overwhelmed. We’re here to assure you that so many people are going through a similar experience, and there are ways to get through this challenging journey.
Seek Medical Attention
It’s valid to be concerned about memory issues of any kind. It’s essential not to diagnose your parent’s memory problems for them. From your perspective, their cognitive decline could be extremely severe.
Even so, it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion from a medical professional. A doctor can be there to assure you that it could be a case of MCI, which is less severe than Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
But, if your parent’s diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer’s, a doctor can determine your next course of action. This could look like prescription medication, a prescription diet, or referral to more specialists. They can also help you decide if a memory care facility may be the best option for your loved one.
Develop a Treatment Plan
Determine if more prescriptions need to be added to your loved one’s treatment plan. Use this as an opportunity to rule out potential medications that could be causing memory loss. Work with your parent’s care team to develop a treatment plan.
A treatment plan can also look like specialists for specific needs or in-home healthcare. This will also need to be the time to decide whether it may be in everyone’s best interests to place your parent in a memory care facility.
Do Some Research
Once you know what’s going on, take some to do some research. The more you know about your parent’s disease, the more you’ll be able to help them.
This can also be helpful for advocacy, especially since your parent may no longer be able to attend important appointments alone. Make sure your parent is well taken care of by everyone involved with their treatment plan.
Do some digging on Google, check out a few books from the library, or attend a class. Support groups are another way to stay informed and get a few things off your chest simultaneously. If your mental health is negatively affected, seek counsel with a licensed mental health or grief counselor.
Reduce Stress
People living with memory problems tend to do much better in a stress-free environment. Even so, it can be challenging to know what could trigger a stress response in your parent.
Try your best to reduce anything that could invoke anxiety, depression, or stress. This could elevate their cognitive decline and increase their memory problems.
You know your parent best, so come up with clever ways to keep them mentally healthy and engaged. To start, encourage them to participate in accessible activities with you. Practice meditation with them, listen to music together or go on short nature walks.
If your parent’s in a memory care facility, activities may be limited. Even so, work with their caregivers to find out what you’re allowed to do with them in strategic periods.
Create a Routine
This may seem like a big undertaking, but it can be quite simple. If your parent is experiencing severe cognitive decline, an everyday routine can work wonders. If they’re given a list of things to do every day, it helps them gain a sense of control and stability over their life.
For example, remind them to do their laundry every Tuesday. From there, schedule their appointments monthly and always remember to give them plenty of reminders.
Review Your Parent’s Nutritional Intake
Your parent’s nutrition may make a big difference in their cognitive abilities. When caregiving for your parent, make sure you give them healthy foods.
These can look like fruits, veggies, and healthy snacks. Make sure they’re eating in general, especially if their cognitive abilities continue to decline.
Make sure your parent’s consuming a lot of water. The average person should ingest six to eight cups of water per day.
Dehydration can confuse any person, and severely raise memory problems if they’re already there. If your loved one drinks alcohol, encourage them to reduce the number of drinks they have per day.
Exercise Their Brain
A diagnosed memory disorder isn’t a death sentence. While it shouldn’t be ignored, it also doesn’t mean they’re doomed until the day they pass. Please take advantage of the healthy moments to exercise their brain. This can look like board games, chess, or brain games like “Spot the Difference.”
If your parent prefers independent activities, give them books to read or get them out of the house by taking them to your local library. Buy puzzle games like Sudoku or Crosswords when they need mental stimulation. They may not be able to remember everything, and that’s okay. What matters is you’re keeping their brain healthy and engaged.
Participate in Physical Exercise
Encourage your loved one to participate in basic physical exercise. This can decrease stress, prevent disease, and stimulate their brain. The average person should participate in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.
You can also dance with them, do sit-down exercises, or perform a more physically exhausting chore. But, that may not be realistic for your parent. Instead, aim for at least 10-15 minutes of physical movement, even if that means a short walk around the block.
Take Care of Yourself
Above all things, make sure you set aside time to care for yourself. Being a caregiver can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. It’s essential to take a moment for yourself when you or your parent has had a bad day.
Take a walk, practice Yoga, or write in a journal. Take one day at a time, remember to breathe, and know that it’s all going to be okay.
Click here to read a similar post on slowing down Dementia in aging men.
