Among the forests and greenery, and just a short walk from various local amenities, the Atascocita community of Foundtainwood at Lake Houston offers a beautiful location for retirement. However, as life continues, issues such as speech changes in aging and increased word-finding difficulty can begin to hint at long-term problems. Early dementia signs such as these can haunt even the most stalwart loved one, and you need to know how to handle such issues.
Below, we offer step-by-step methods for improving home habits, prompting better ways to engage with your day, and routines you can use to support memory retrieval without adding further stress to a loved one's life. Discover how assisted living cognitive support from Fountainwood at Lake Houston can provide a reprieve, and learn how memory care in Atascocita, TX, begins with us.
Challenges in later life, such as word-finding difficulty, can mean that even basic tasks become much harder to accomplish. In this case, retrieving familiar words or names during conversations can become extremely challenging, and is often even more noticeable when one is tired or distracted.
While having a "tip-of-the-tongue" moment may be normal and a healthy part of aging, it can often become more extreme without medical attention. So, make a note if you start to see this occur regularly, so that you can take this list of incidents to a healthcare professional later on. When you do this, be sure to write down any triggers that occurred, in case a specific emotion or memory caused them to recur.
As such, watch out for patterns, such as substituting particular words for much more vague ones, or references to "that thing" or "that place", where before the person was easily able to articulate themselves. Some people may even give up mid-sentence, moving themselves to perform a task themselves out of frustration, not realising that it may be a part of a larger problem.
This term is called aphasia, and it is relatively common, especially in neurological disorders, but can be distressing if it continues to progress. As such, try to remain calm when it occurs, and be aware that some people may be sensitive about it. Many older individuals experience stigma due to mental health issues, and even simply helping someone remember a word may be frustrating sometimes.
The next time someone goes for a check, see if they will have a secondary person with them to help convey their needs. If so, try to communicate to the doctor that they may require screening for mental wellness, depression, or several other mental health ailments.
A cognitive screening check, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), takes only ten minutes and allows a specialist to assess whether someone is in the earliest stages of mental health decline. If they are, then your loved one can take steps to maintain their long-term wellness. For example, you can start investigating options such as Memory Care in Houston, TX.
When a person has issues with remembering words, you may want to help them create surroundings that prevent the problem from progressing. For example, work with them to create a calm environment that allows them to concentrate when speaking with you.
Alternatively, look into reading books and newspapers aloud. Use them to practice speaking and understanding longer words. Ask your loved one to recap the article after reading it to practice sentence building and help them assert their recall.
It is also beneficial to keep exercising and allowing the blood to flow. So, encourage mild exercising, as much as a loved one can manage, to help stretch muscles and support the brain's health.
If someone is repeatedly having issues with the same recollections, such as names, places, or specific details, you may want to consider using spaced repetition. This activity involves asking them to recite something, doing it more often if they continue to get it right, but returning it to regular testing if they fail.
Alternatively, having a pinboard with names on it in their apartment. You can label people's roles and relationships with your loved one, too, to assist them by allowing them to see the details of their connection every time they look at it. However, ensure that the use of the board comes with no judgment to encourage its use.
Finally, if you expect to have a stressful conversation, do so after a rest or a meal, when your loved one's attention and ability to respond effectively are more likely to be at their peak.
Retirees who use assisted living services often use predictable routines to help them engage with the world around them. For example:
Each of these, and many more, is available at Fountainwood at Lake Houston, allowing your loved one to make the most of their time there.
At the same time, memory care apartments provide a safe and secure area in which someone you care for can avoid being overwhelmed when their memory becomes hazy. Combined with the aforementioned schedule, they can enjoy much-reduced anxiety and engagement that promises to exercise their mind each day.
We understand that word-finding difficulty can be stressful, but we also know that it can often be manageable, especially in its early stages, with simple support. So, act decisively with a screening with a healthcare professional and start to investigate options for long-term care for your loved one.
We offer Assisted Living and Memory Care, with trained teams that ensure our community members can make the most of every moment. So, book a tour with our team and learn more about what we do for those in our care today.