Is someone you love experiencing memory loss or other cognitive problems? Many people are reluctant to acknowledge that they are having serious difficulty with their memory or activities of daily living. This is natural. They might be afraid to find out that they have Alzheimer’s disease or other illness. They might be afraid that they could lose their independence if they acknowledge the troubles they are having. Maybe they think it is simply a normal part of aging.

Regardless of the reason, pretending that everything is normal delays appropriate treatment and can be very risky. This is especially the case when the person in question lives alone or refuses to make necessary lifestyle changes. Even if they are not doing things that are inherently dangerous, they might no longer be able to respond appropriately in an emergency. They might also accidentally harm others or put them at risk.

You should strongly consider encouraging your loved one to have an evaluation if you have noticed any of the following changes in their behavior.

• They constantly repeat themselves or quickly forget what you told them.

• They forget appointments or dates with friends and family members.

• They have lost interest in hobbies or other activities they used to enjoy.

• They are having a hard time doing things that used to be easy for them.

• They are easily confused.

• They are having a hard time taking their medication as directed.

• They don’t seem to be taking very good care of themselves anymore.

• Their hygiene has deteriorated.

• They don’t clean or take care of their home as well as they used to.

• They are having increasing difficulty using remote controls or appliances.

• They have increasing difficulty following directions.

• They don’t drive as well as they used to.

• They are having troubles with their finances, such as forgetting to pay bills or paying bills twice.

• They seem more gullible when strangers ask for money or try to sell them things.

A memory disorder assessment of a loved one will help you:

• Understand what is causing their problems with memory and other aspects of their cognitive functioning.

• Experience peace of mind. Many causes of memory loss are treatable. Often there is no neurological disease. If they have a disease, an assessment will help ensure they receive the most appropriate treatment.

• Understand their cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

• Know where to go for other types of testing or specific treatments that might be helpful.

• Learn about community resources and where to go for more help.

• Know what restrictions on your loved one’s independence, if any, are necessary now.

• Do what needs to be done. People are more likely to accept restrictions on their independence when recommended by an impartial outside expert.

• Know what to expect in the future, including how their memory loss and/or other problems are likely to progress and what their future needs will probably be. This will help you to plan for the future.

• Have a baseline measurement of your loved one’s memory and thinking to more accurately assess any future changes.