What should I do if I am concerned about a loved one's memory, thinking, or behavior?

Maybe you've noticed a parent or grandparent is repeating themself more frequently, misplacing things, forgetting names or words, or just seems more easily confused.

Maybe you've noticed they have been forgetting appointments and medications, or that they are getting lost when driving.

Or maybe it's a personality change you've noticed - they just don't seem like themself sometimes, saying things or doing things that are out of character for them.

Whether it is a change in thinking, personality, behavior, or day-to-day functioning, these are important things to notice and monitor. 

"I've told my loved one that I'm concerned about them, but where do we go from here?"

Monitoring the symptoms or changes, making notes, and informing an individual's healthcare provider are important and helpful first steps.

Primary care providers can then determine what should be done in terms of investigating the symptoms and coming up with a treatment plan.

Often times, an individual will undergo some tests, such as brain imaging, blood work, and cognitive screening tests, and/or they may be referred to a specialist such as a neuropsychologist and/or a neurologist.

"Their doctor mentioned a neuropsychological evaluation - what is that?"

A neuropsychological evaluation consists of a clinical interview with a clinical neuropsychologist and a cognitive assessment. It helps to answer the question of whether someone is experiencing normal aging, cognitive impairment related to a medical condition or dementia, or changes in thinking skills for other reasons.

During the evaluation, the neuropsychologist generally will:

• Talk with the individual (and often times their family or caregiver) about any symptoms or concerns
• Conduct an assessment of cognitive skills using paper-and-pencil and question-and-answer tasks, administered by the doctor or a psychometrist (aka someone specially-trained in test administration)
• Assess for emotional symptoms, such as depression or anxiety
• Ask about any changes in personality, behavior, movement, and day-to-day functioning
• Put all of this information together in the context of the individual's background and medical conditions
• Communicate the results and recommendations to help with diagnosis, treatment planning, and compensation strategies

And, in case you're wondering - no, there is no need to study for this type of evaluation!

Stay informed, involved, and empowered!

Ask your questions, seek the answers you need, and advocate for the wellbeing of your loved one, while also monitoring your own wellbeing as a caregiver.

To hit the highlights:

• If you notice changes in a loved one's thinking, personality, behavior, or day-to-day functioning, make note of them 

• Let an individual's trusted healthcare professional know of any concerns

• Sometimes more detailed testing may be completed or they may be referred to a specialist for evaluation to help with diagnosis and treatment planning

• Stay informed and ask questions when they come up - that is how you stay empowered as a caregiver and advocate for your loved one