Dental problems
If you’re experiencing memory problems it might mean that you forget to brush your teeth or your cleaning technique is not what it should be. Looking after your teeth is especially important if you have a sweet tooth, or if you find yourself developing one, and neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to other health problems.
Toilet issues
People living with dementia sometimes have issues with going to the loo. This might be due to memory problems and forgetting to go, being scared of using the bathroom at night in case of falls, reduced mobility or dehydration and a poor diet.
You might have a pre-existing issue that impacts your ability to go to the toilet, or you might take medication that increases the likelihood of incontinence, but don’t ignore toilet issues and speak to your GP about it.
Changes in how you see the world around you
Dementia brings changes in the brain which means messages connected with sight, sound, smell and touch are scrambled, confused or misinterpreted and the world is perceived differently.
This is why those living with dementia might bump into things, see or hear things that are not there or have difficulty with recognition. Regular eye and hearing tests help as well as improved lighting at home and turning off distracting background noise (TV, radio etc).
Falls and accidents
Some of the symptoms of dementia can make people more prone to falls – and some medications have side effects that affect balance and cause dizziness.
Other reasons for an increased risk of falls include:
Mobility, balance and muscle issues
Memory issues that mean it’s hard to navigate and easy to get lost
Difficulties with the brain processing what is seen
Hearing and difficulties with noise
While many people experience hearing loss with age, if you’re living with dementia you might experience additional difficulties with sounds.
Some find they have problems with:
Picking one sound out from another and identifying what a sound is
Understanding what is being said – or experiencing trouble processing what they’re told
Being scared by noises – especially loud or sudden/unexpected
Making sense of, and following, a conversation – especially if there’s a lot of background noise or several people are speaking at once
Restlessness
When you’re living with dementia it’s common to feel a sense of restlessness. This can be caused by a wide range of reasons, including feeling too hot or too cold, being hungry or thirsty, feeling in pain or bored, needing the loo or feeling anxious.
This might look like pacing, fidgeting or a sense of needing to get up and leave, suddenly. This typically happens at dusk, when the light changes and is called sundowning.
Anxiety and depression
It’s not uncommon for people to feel worried when they find out they have dementia. And sometimes depression is a symptom of dementia, especially vascular dementia or Lewy Body dementia.
But there are things that help, including spending time outdoors, exercise, relaxation activities, improving diet and talking therapies. A chat with a GP is advisable, too, to see if medication might help.
If you’d like more information about common medical issues for people living with dementia, you can read more here