Is This Dementia? — MindDose Collective

Understanding the Difference

Normal Aging vs. Warning Signs

Not every memory slip is dementia. The difference is in the pattern — how often it happens, whether it's getting worse, and how much it affects daily life.

✓ NormalForgetting a name but remembering it later

⚠ WarningForgetting names of close family members often

✓ NormalMaking a bad decision once in a while

⚠ WarningMaking poor decisions repeatedly — finances, safety

✓ NormalMissing a monthly payment occasionally

⚠ WarningUnable to manage bills or finances consistently

✓ NormalForgetting which day it is but remembering later

⚠ WarningLosing track of dates, seasons, passage of time

✓ NormalSometimes forgetting the right word

⚠ WarningStopping mid-sentence with no idea how to continue

✓ NormalMisplacing keys and retracing steps to find them

⚠ WarningPutting things in unusual places, accusing others of theft

✓ NormalFeeling tired of social obligations sometimes

⚠ WarningWithdrawing from hobbies and family completely

    A few slips happen to everyone. It's consistent patterns across multiple areas that signal a reason to see a doctor.
  

Identified by the Alzheimer's Association

10 Warning Signs of Dementia

If your loved one shows several of these signs consistently, it's time to see a doctor.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

Forgetting recent information, asking the same questions repeatedly

Challenges with planning or problem solving

Difficulty following recipes, managing bills, concentrating

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Trouble driving familiar routes, managing budgets, using appliances

Confusion with time or place

Losing track of dates, seasons, or how they got somewhere

Trouble understanding visual images

Difficulty reading, judging distance, recognizing faces

New problems with words

Stopping mid-conversation, repeating, struggling for the right word

Misplacing things unusually

Putting things in unusual places, accusing others of stealing

Decreased or poor judgment

Giving money to telemarketers, neglecting personal hygiene

Withdrawal from social activities

Removing themselves from hobbies, events, and family gatherings

Changes in mood or personality

Confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious without clear reason

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

What To Do Next

If you recognize these signs in someone you love, here is a clear path forward.

Write down what you're noticing

Keep a simple log — what happened, when, and how often. This becomes invaluable at the doctor's office.

Make a primary care appointment

Bring your observations. Ask for a cognitive screening and medication review. Some conditions that look like dementia are treatable.

Ask for a specialist referral if needed

A neurologist, geriatrician, or memory clinic may be the next step after your primary care visit.

Start safety planning early

Think about medication management, wandering prevention, and home safety before a crisis happens.

Take care of yourself too

Caregiver burnout is real. Connect with a support group and ask for help. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

    It is always better to ask and be reassured than to wait and wonder. Calling your doctor when you're worried is never an overreaction.
  

Knowing When to Act

When To Get Help

Trust your instincts. You know your loved one better than anyone.

📞 Call Your Doctor When...

Memory problems are affecting daily life
Your loved one gets lost in familiar places
They're struggling to manage medications or bills
Personality or mood has changed noticeably
You notice any combination of the warning signs above

🚨 Go to the ER When...

They are suddenly confused or combative without explanation
They have wandered and are in an unsafe situation
They fall and you are concerned about injury
They stop eating or recognizing family members suddenly
You feel unsafe or cannot manage the situation at home

Florida Resources

Where To Find Help

Alzheimer's Association — 24/7 Helpline

Support, crisis assistance, and local resources in over 200 languages. Available around the clock.

1-800-272-3900 · alz.org

Central Florida Health Care

Community health services across Central Florida including behavioral health, regardless of ability to pay.

(863) 519-0575 · cfhconline.org

Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Connects families to local aging services, caregiver support programs, and memory care resources.

1-800-963-5337 · elderaffairs.org

Eldercare Locator

Free national service connecting caregivers to local support services anywhere in Florida.

1-800-677-1116 · eldercare.acl.gov

If You're in Crisis Right Now

988

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline · Call or text · Free · Confidential · 24/7
Available for you and your loved one at any point during this journey.