Senior Home Care in St. Pete Beach FL
Millions of senior citizens have Alzheimer’s disease. However, if your elderly loved one receives a diagnosis of this disease, you can still get a second opinion. Sure, the doctor could be right and your elderly loved one may, in fact, have Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is also important to know that there are some common health conditions that someone might mistake for Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin Deficiency
One of the most common health conditions that can mimic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is vitamin deficiency. Some of these symptoms might include:
- Moving slower than usual
- Becoming confused
- Being more irritable than normal
If these symptoms arise in your elderly loved one, it is important to make sure their doctor runs a blood test. They may just have a vitamin B6, B1, or B12 deficiency. If that is the case, taking these vitamins regularly can help to get rid of or lessen those symptoms. If that works, your elderly loved one may not actually have Alzheimer’s disease.
Depressive Thoughts or Actions
Another health condition that might be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease is depression. There are many people who have Alzheimer’s disease who are depressed. However, there are many other reasons for depression, too. Some symptoms of depression you or a senior home care provider may notice in your elderly loved one include:
- Forgetfulness
- Disorientation
- Focus issues
If these things are regularly noticed in your elderly loved one, that doesn’t necessarily mean the depression is coming from Alzheimer’s disease. There are numerous environmental and personal reasons for depression. Talk to your elderly loved one about what they are feeling. Have them see a doctor or therapist to get to the bottom of things.
Medication Side Effects
Your elderly loved one could also be misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease due to medication side effects. The list of side effects from medications on the market could go on and on. Some side effects that may be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Agitation
If your elderly loved one recently started taking a new medication, make sure to read the side effects on the medication brochure. You could also talk to the pharmacist about that particular medication. The symptoms could be coming from the medication and not from Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion
These are some of the common health conditions that someone might mistake for Alzheimer’s disease. Now that you know what these are, you and senior home care providers can look for reasons why your elderly loved one may be having them. It may not be Alzheimer’s disease after all.
Sources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Home Care in St. Pete Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
