Common physical changes can include:
Problems with balance
Dementia can affect the person’s gait and balance, meaning they may become unsteady on their feet and may be prone to dizziness. Cognitive impairment caused by dementia can mean that the person’s ability to perform several tasks at once can be affected. Walking and talking simultaneously may be difficult for the person, so if they enjoy walking, don’t chat too much while they are on the move.
Some medications used to manage dementia symptoms can also cause dizziness and drowsiness.
What to do: If the person has recently changed medication and you notice they seem dizzy or more sleepy than usual, seek advice from their GP. Seek medical help if their balance or walking deteriorates very suddenly.
Reduced spatial awareness
Alzheimer’s disease can cause damage to a person’s parietal lobes in the brain. These lobes are responsible for our spatial awareness. The person may struggle to judge distances between objects and furniture, making them more likely to bump into things.
What to do: Make sure their home is free from clutter and remove any trip hazards. <Link here to article about making the person’s home safe>.
Difficulty recognising objects
The person’s eyesight may be fine, but the brain still has to process and make sense of what they see. The brain’s temporal lobes help us to identify faces and objects, as they help us process information. If these become damaged due to dementia, the person may struggle to recognise objects or people. They may confuse a TV remote control with a purse for instance or may not immediately recognise you.
What to do: If you notice they are struggling to identify certain items, don’t point out their mistake as it may make them feel frustrated. Be patient. They may need to look at an object or person more than once to identify who or what they are seeing – give them time to do so.
Bladder and bowel incontinence
This is typically seen in the later stages of dementia. It can be caused by several things, including:
The person not recognising the urge to go to the toilet until it’s too late
Getting lost on their way to the toilet
Not being quick enough to get to the toilet
Being unable to undo fiddly buttons or zips
What to do: Make sure the person knows where the toilet is and ask them if they need to use the loo if they haven’t been for a while. If you need to take them to an appointment, make sure you know where the toilet stops are on the journey. Provide the person with incontinence pads if need be. <Link to incontinence article here>.
Problems swallowing
Some people with dementia can struggle to eat or swallow. This can lead to weight loss or choking. Dysphagia is a condition where the person has trouble swallowing. This can develop in the later stages of dementia. Serve softer foods such as yogurts, pureed vegetables or milkshakes in bite-sized portions.
What to do: If you notice rapid weight loss, speak to the person’s GP. To reduce the risk of choking during meals, make sure the person is alert when you serve food. Help them sit upright to eat and use a double-handed cup or beaker when they need to drink. Ensure the person sees their GP if they are coughing or choking regularly.
BOX OUT:
Watch out for stroke-like symptoms
If the person has vascular dementia (commonly linked to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and smoking), they may have developed symptoms that look similar to having a stroke. They may suffer from temporary paralysis on one side of their body or suddenly develop problems walking. Seek medical help immediately if this happens. While dementia is a progressive condition and changes can be expected, any sudden changes should be noted and treated promptly.
Sources:
Alzheimer’s Society