Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Certified Senior Advisor and Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q: Lately, Iāve been forgetting so many little details. Should I be concerned?
A: Misplacing keys and forgetting why you walked over to your pantry are common occurrences for many of us. I know I do things like that all the time. A common example I will use with someone who is concerned about their memory is this: there is a difference between misplacing your keys and having them in your hand but not recognizing what the keys are for. If you are concerned about memory loss, there are things to look out for that would help you determine if a memory screening is right for you. The Alzheimerās Foundation of America has a few suggestions of when you might want to consider a memory screening. Some of those āred flagā items include asking yourself some questions. Do you sometimes forget where you are going when you are driving in your car? Do you have trouble recalling common words or familiar names in a conversation that you would otherwise know? Have you become lost, disoriented, or found yourself in unfamiliar surroundings when walking or driving short distances? These are just a few areas to honestly assess.
The Alzheimerās web site (nationalmemoryscreening.org) has a wealth of information available.
A memory screening is the first step toward finding out if you might have a memory problem. It is not used to diagnose any type of memory illness, but it will let you know if you should seek the help of your doctor. A memory screening is a tool that checks memory and other thinking skills. Usually, a nurse will administer this screening, asking questions that test memory, language, and thinking ability. Itās not used to diagnose illnesses. The results of the screening are confidential. If your score is below normal, you will be advised to speak to your doctor for further evaluation. Your doctor will help identify if there is a particular disease associated with any memory loss you might be experiencing.
Early recognition is very important. November 15th is National Memory Screening Day. Many service providers that work with seniors will be providing free screenings on or around that date. If you visit www.alzfdn.org, you will be able to find a site near you, and you can take advantage of this offering. Another reason early recognition is important is so that caregivers and other family members can take advantage of community services, such as support groups.
If you would like more information about memory screenings in your area, feel free to call me at 847-429-0100.
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