As you get older, you’re faced with new challenges, including not being able to remember as much as you used to. And while overlooking a few things here and there is normal, it helps to know when forgetfulness may indicate the possibility of memory loss or dementia.

Providing home care to individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in Saint Louis, MO, Memory Care Home Solutions understands how important it is to be able to differentiate between a minor inconvenience and a more serious issue. Below, their experts explains how forgetfulness and more severe memory loss problems are different—and what you should do about them.

Forgetfulness

Standard forgetfulness refers to situations where you occasionally can’t remember certain details or you overlook things. For example, if you misplace your house keys, have a name on the tip of your tongue, or are drawing a blank on your computer password.

Infrequent forgetfulness may be embarrassing or frustrating, but it doesn’t mean your health is in trouble—it just means you are aging. Depending on what you’re forgetting, you can help improve these instances by following a set routine, writing out reminders for yourself, and getting more rest.

Memory Loss

If you notice that your forgetfulness is becoming more frequent, you may be dealing with some sort of memory loss, which most often refers to being unable to remember specific chunks of information. For example, if you can’t remember what you talked about during a conversation, or you often forget appointments you have, memory loss may be part of the issue.

In some cases, memory loss may suggest the development of other memory-related issues, such as dementia or mild cognitive impairment. In other situations, your memory loss may be directly caused by other factors, such as a new medication, injury, or mental health condition. Whatever the circumstances are, always talk to your doctor for more information when you begin noticing memory loss on a regular basis.

Dementia

Standard memory loss typically doesn’t get in the way of daily life or impact your health. However, when memory loss becomes severe and puts you in danger, dementia may be the culprit. Some common signs of dementia include mood changes, experiencing memory loss at specific times of day, getting lost in places you know, or having trouble keeping up with conversations.

It’s important to know that if dementia happens, a person can still maintain a solid quality of life in their own home with the support of caregivers. If you’re looking for memory loss support in St. Louis, MO, the home care specialists at Memory Care Home Solutions can provide compassionate, reliable, and affordable assistance. To learn more, contact a trusted team member today at (314) 645-6247 or visit their website.