As we age, hardly any part of our body remains what it used to be. We lose muscle mass and skin tone. Our gait slows, our teeth may come loose, or our hair may begin to fall out. We may slur our speech a little bit, become hard of hearing, or just plain forget things sometimes. In moderation, all of these things can be considered completely normal occurrences during the process of aging – even short term memory lapses.
Any time a senior person forgets something, especially when receiving in-home senior care, family members generally find cause for alarm. They begin to wonder if these small lapses in memory are innocent or if they have a more sinister side that leans toward dementia and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. In the majority of the cases, memory lapses that senior people experience are totally harmless and have a simple, underlying cause.
Some examples of forgetfulness that are generally not a cause for concern are:
- forgetting where you left your glasses or keys
- forgetting the names of people and places
- occasionally forgetting an appointment
- trouble recalling something you just read
- going into a room without remembering what for
Some underlying causes for short term memory lapses are:
- Vitamin B-12 deficiencies
- hearing impairment
- certain medications
- exposures to toxins
- thyroidal problems
When providing senior care there are ways we recommend to improve episodes of short term memory lapses. Improving the senior’s diet is one of those ways. Antioxidants and Vitamin B-12 are important nutrients in retaining cognitive function. Getting enough rest at night allows the brain time to process the information it retained over the course of the day. This is why bouts with memory loss are aggravated by insomnia. The brain hasn’t had time to rest.
Continuously challenging the brain is an effective way to maintain its function. This can be achieved by working crossword or ‘brain teaser’ puzzles, playing board games that require strategy, or reading books or papers on an unfamiliar subject. The benefits of engaging other people in these activities are two-fold. Not only is the brain receiving a workout from the puzzles and games, it is also working overtime to balance the communication and interaction that is going on between the individuals involved in the activities, thereby improving and expanding important social skills.
It is important, when providing senior care, for caregivers and family members to keep notes on the frequency of the elderly loved one’s bouts with short term memory lapses. While they could be perfectly normal occurrences, being aware of an increased frequency in the bouts will help establish whether the lapses need to be brought to the attention of a medical professional to rule out any other problems.
Tags: bremerton, home care providers, in home care, port orchard, poulsbo, senior care, silverdale
