Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How can I tell if my mother has dementia?

172 Answers
Last Updated: 05/09/2022 at 11:18pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Brooke Bowen, LPC

Counselor

I am nonjudgmental, supportive, and encouraging. I use an eclectic approach in order to empower you so you can have a happy and fulfilling future :)

Top Rated Answers
magnanimousButton53
September 23rd, 2016 11:01am
You should tell her as she is ageing, she has been affected by dementia. Many old people are affected with one or the other disease but not to worry as you are with her in her journey
Anonymous
September 25th, 2016 7:44am
You should think about convincing your mother to see a doctor and get some evalutaions for dementia.
MarchSand
October 8th, 2016 5:00am
I think the best you can do is take her to an specialist, because that's a serious illness and you can't diagnose it with Internet's information or by yourself.
HarmonyBasingstoke1
October 8th, 2016 7:20pm
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain. There are over 100 different types of Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia being the most common. In each case, Dementia manifests itself differently, depending upon how it affects the individual. Commonly, memory is affected, but not in every case. It would be an idea to have an investigation from a Doctor who will perform a special check which can indicate the early stages. There is also a drug named Aricept which can be provided in early-onset Dementia to slow down the effects.
Bigheart4all
October 13th, 2016 7:36am
My grandma has dementia really bad. their whole memory starts to fade. they also tend to say the same thing over and over because of their loss of memory. then they start to forget family members. Its really sad to see them like that
originalbraveheart63
November 10th, 2016 2:26pm
You should take her to the doctor and consult her. Without a doctor it might not be solved if she has or if she does not.
SJA18
November 11th, 2016 4:03am
from a medical point of view you cant it has to be diagnosed however some symptoms of dementia can be noticed, some symptoms include: - forgetting things regularly - difficulty remembering names/places - referring to themselves as a younger person than what they actually are these are again subject to a diagnosis really your best option in this case is to speak to the person and maybe visit your pg. with him/her.
BeckyPositivity
November 23rd, 2016 2:10am
Dementia is sometimes tricky to pick up. But there are some common signs. However, I would recommend visiting a doctor, or an expert who you can talk to about your mother's behaviour. That way, they can diagnose the type of dementia, or tell you if it may be something else!
DandyDaisy
November 30th, 2016 5:53pm
You can tell if your mother may have dementia if she is having mental loss, confusion, or forgetfulness. I would definitely try to get her to a doctor to see if she meets the criteria of dementia.
Bluewolf1229
December 9th, 2016 2:07am
Dementia is an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. If you suspect any of this i would takeher to a doctor.
strawberryPudding82
December 9th, 2016 10:46am
There are different signs of dementia such as loss of memory, staying focused, communication but the best way to know is to take her to a doctor for testing as these symptoms can be caused by many things including any medication that she may be taking or maybe she is going through problems she hasn't confided in anyone about so she is distracted.
StarName28
March 15th, 2017 11:01pm
I have worked with adults with Dementia. You first notice that they repeat the same questions over and over, simple ones like, what day is it? Where are we going? And her eyes will start to look empty as if something is going on.
uniquePanda42
June 30th, 2017 2:47pm
If you are having any concerns or questions about dementia or your mother's memory you should contact her doctor.
interestingFish11
July 2nd, 2017 6:21pm
If your mother is experiencing frequent forgetfulness or behavioral changes, you should definitely be concerned. I highly recommend checking out this link to see an in depth list of symptoms that entail dementia. https://g.co/kgs/g2Wu29 I also recommend taking your mother to an experienced medical professional for a medical evaluation. It is always better to be safe than sorry!
kindSoul10
July 13th, 2017 3:51pm
dementia is an illness and should be diagnosed by professionals. You shouldn't do this yourself. If your parent has dementia it's not likely that she is aware of her symptoms like forgetting things.
sweetsun29
July 13th, 2017 7:57pm
Although signs may vary, the most common signs of early onset dementia are: memory problems (particularly remembering recent events),increasing confusion.reduced concentration. personality or behavior changes such as fatigue, and idling themselves, apathy and withdrawal or depression and often times they have a loss of ability to do everyday tasks. I hope this helped! The most supportive thing you can do is just listen and remind them, be patient.
Anonymous
August 12th, 2017 1:45pm
First of all I'm not a doctor so I can't tell if your mother truly has a dementia. But what I can advise you to do if you suspect she has one is to research and ask a professional doctor thar can confirm if your mother truly has dementia.
beautifuldevil
August 17th, 2017 8:38pm
Dementia is a medical illness, and needs to be properly diagnosed by a qualified doctor. I suggest setting up an appointment for your mother at a mental health facility.
caishrenee
August 20th, 2017 4:38am
Seek a professionals help if you have come across any signs that your mother or anyone whom you may know may have dementia.
HelpWisely
September 1st, 2017 2:24am
My mom has dementia so occasionally she will say things that don't make any sense, she will bring up past issues and start blaming somebody for it. My mom also misplaces things and later will blame somebody else or say it got stolen.
lovingSalamander80
September 1st, 2017 2:58pm
Problems with short-term memory, very often people attribute this symptom with stress or with having a lot on their minds. Short -term memory lost is definitely early warning sings of dementia.
CaringCat94
November 24th, 2017 3:56pm
There are certain signs (memory loss, repeating phrases, loss of reality, irritability etc.) but a formal diagnosis can only be given by a doctor. Depending on how advanced she is you can suggest she see the doctor herself or ask for her to be referred.
AvaLive07
December 6th, 2017 4:15pm
Sounds like you are concerned for your mother. This can be a difficult time for you and your mother. Practice lots of patience. Have you took her to see a doctor?
Anonymous
December 10th, 2017 12:33am
You have to search the dementia symptoms to know if your mother has dementia, one of the modt commoncsigns in it is forgetting names and numbers.
Anonymous
December 14th, 2017 12:01pm
It's normal to forget things once in a while. However, forgetting how to make change, use the telephone, or find your way home are probably signs of a more serious memory problem, such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia or the early stages of Alzheimer's.
here2help5
January 12th, 2018 11:44pm
Look up the signs on google or take her to a doctor to get an accurate diagnoses. Take notes of how she talks and behaves and discuss it with a doctor.
Anonymous
January 24th, 2018 2:21am
There are symptoms that can be recognised, such as : Memory loss Difficulty performing familiar tasks Problems with language, There is no way to be 100% sure then to get a diagnosis from a trained and qualified doctor.
BlissfulNathalie24
January 28th, 2018 5:24pm
A doctor is best to answer this question. I was the primary care giver to a loved one with dementia and it is not easy to spot in the beginning. Write down the events that have led you to think that this might be a possiblity. Take that log with you to your mothers next doctors appointment and discuss this with them.
Anonymous
February 1st, 2018 4:24pm
It can sometimes be hard to tell if someone has dementia. Because some memory loss is normal as a person ages. However, extensive memory loss is not. I work in that field and the best thing you can do is take her in to see her doctor and ask for a referral to a neurologist. The neurologist can order an MRI to look at whether or not there are physical signs of dementia. Also, they can order neuropsychological testing (this is what I do in my career) in order to determine if her memory truly is worse than other people her age. Bottom line is, if you think there are problems, it's best to take her to see her doctor.
Anonymous
February 10th, 2018 2:07pm
Well ask her questions and then have her respond then ask her that question the next week just try to have her remember thing but if she can't she my have the start of dementia