Everything Caregivers Need to Know About Memory Screening

Since seniors are at a greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of age-related dementia, it is important for Dayton live-in caregivers to keep an eye out for any possible symptoms. A prompt diagnosis of dementia allows seniors to use treatments that delay the disease’s progression. Regular memory screenings are a particularly useful method for early detection of dementia. Following is some helpful information and facts about the memory screening process.

Where Can You Get a Memory Screening?

Many different types of healthcare providers may be able to offer a memory screening. Your senior loved one’s primary care physician may be qualified to do memory screenings, but you may need to find someone else if the physician is not trained in using the screening tests approved by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. You may be able to take your senior loved one to a local psychologist, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or social worker to get a memory screening.

What Happens During the Memory Screening?

There are four commonly used memory screening tests, including the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition, the Mini General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition, the Memory Impairment Screen, and the Brief Alzheimer’s screening. During the test, the senior will answer a series of questions and work on completing some general tasks. The whole process is quick and painless, and it helps to determine if the senior’s memory, cognitive function, and thinking skills are still intact.

Will You Be Told the Results of a Memory Screening?

Like all other medical procedures, the results of the screening will be confidential, so they will only be shared with the senior and included in the senior’s medical files. However, your senior loved one may choose to share the information with you or his or her Dayton, OH, dementia caregiver, or you can have access to it if you are the senior’s guardian or healthcare proxy.
When seniors are diagnosed with dementia, they benefit from quality home care Dayton families can trust. Home Care Assistance provides extensive memory services for local seniors to help them age in place with confidence. Contact us at [hca_phone] today to let us customize a care plan for your loved one.

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