10 Early Warning Signs of Dementia and When to Seek Help at Home

Dementia Care at Home, Bay Shore, NY

As our loved ones age, occasional forgetfulness is expected. But how do we know when memory lapses and behavioral changes might signal something more serious—like dementia?

Dementia is not a specific disease but a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with daily life. Early detection is key to accessing the right dementia care services and planning for long-term support. In this blog, we’ll walk you through 10 early warning signs of dementia and offer guidance on when it may be time to consider in-home dementia care.

1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life

One of the most common early signs of dementia is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Individuals may:

• Ask the same questions repeatedly

• Forget important dates or events

• Rely increasingly on memory aids or family members

If your loved one struggles to retain short-term information, it might be time to explore professional caregiver services that can help with reminders, medication cues, and daily support.

2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks

People with early dementia may have trouble completing routine tasks such as:

• Preparing a meal

• Driving to a familiar location

• Managing their checkbook

When these abilities start to fade, it can compromise both safety and independence. This is a sign that home care services may be beneficial to help your loved one continue their day-to-day activities safely and with dignity.

3. Confusion with Time or Place

Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time is another common sign. Your loved one may:

• Forget where they are or how they got there

• Miss appointments despite reminders

• Seem disoriented even in familiar surroundings

These experiences can cause fear or anxiety, which makes the case for a structured and comforting environment through 24/7 dementia home care more compelling.

4. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships

Vision problems not related to cataracts or aging eyesight can also be a symptom. This includes:

• Difficulty judging distance

• Trouble reading

• Confusion with color or contrast

For example, they may spill food while eating or misjudge steps. If you’ve noticed such challenges, companion care services can help mitigate fall risks and provide guidance throughout the home.

5. New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing

Someone in the early stages of dementia may struggle with vocabulary, forget common words, or have difficulty following or joining a conversation. You might hear them:

• Repeat themselves

• Call things by the wrong name (e.g., “hand clock” instead of “watch”)

• Lose track of the conversation mid-way

If communication is becoming a challenge, a trained dementia caregiver can help engage your loved one in meaningful, calming dialogue while using proven communication techniques.

6. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps

While everyone misplaces things occasionally, someone with dementia may do so frequently—and may accuse others of stealing when they cannot find the item.

They may also:

• Put items in unusual places (e.g., keys in the freezer)

• Lose things and be unable to retrace their steps

• Show increased frustration or paranoia

This disorganization can quickly lead to stress and conflict. Caregiver services provide the hands-on help needed to keep household routines and organization on track.

7. Poor Judgment or Decision-Making

Decline in judgment may become apparent in:

• Giving away large sums of money to telemarketers

• Paying less attention to grooming and hygiene

• Making unsafe decisions like leaving the stove on

If these lapses have become frequent, they may indicate cognitive decline that could benefit from in-home oversight. Learn more about our hourly and live-in care options to provide structure and supervision.

8. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities

Your loved one may begin to avoid social settings, hobbies, or family gatherings. Reasons could include:

• Fear of embarrassment due to memory lapses

• Trouble keeping up with conversations

• Fatigue or confusion

Engaging your loved one through activities like pet therapy or familiar music and art is one way our team of caregivers helps restore joy and connection.

9. Changes in Mood and Personality

Mood swings or personality changes may be early indicators. These could include:

• Increased anxiety or depression

• Suspicion and distrust

• Confusion or irritability in new situations

If you’re witnessing new emotional patterns that are out of character, compassionate home companion services can provide a calming presence and routine support to stabilize the day.

10. Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems

Your loved one may find it harder to:

• Follow a recipe

• Work with numbers

• Develop or follow a plan

Early dementia can affect the brain’s ability to sequence steps or handle multi-tasking. Having a home care companion available can assist with day-to-day tasks like meal prep, bill paying, and transportation.

When to Seek Help at Home

It can be overwhelming to determine when occasional forgetfulness turns into something more concerning. The right time to seek help is when:

• You observe a consistent pattern in any of the above signs

• Your loved one’s safety becomes a concern

• Caregiving is becoming too overwhelming for your family alone

• They’re starting to feel isolated or anxious at home

At Family First Home Companions, we specialize in dementia care that’s compassionate, professional, and personalized. Whether your loved one needs a few hours of support a day or full-time care, our experienced caregivers can provide comfort, safety, and companionship right in the home.

How Family First Home Companions Can Help

We understand how difficult it is to navigate the journey of dementia. Our services are designed to support both the individual and their family:

• Hourly, overnight, and 24/7 live-in care

• Customized dementia care plans

• CareMatch Plus for finding the right caregiver

• Transportation assistance and activity support

• Respite care for family caregivers needing a break

Visit our Caregiver Services page to learn more, or contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help your loved one thrive at home.

Final Thoughts

Recognizing the early warning signs of dementia can be the first step toward ensuring safety, comfort, and peace of mind for your loved one. With the right care and support, it’s possible to live well with dementia at home.

Let Family First Home Companions walk this journey with you—because well-being at home starts here.

At Family First Home Companions of Long Island, NY our mission is to provide an outstanding home care service that is professional and personalized.  We diligently hire attentive, qualified staff to meet each client’s unique needs and do so with compassion and integrity.  It is an honor and a privilege to help seniors at home to maintain their independence and quality of life in Long Island, NY.  If you or a senior loved one needs help with daily activities such as, meal preparation, household chores, errands, transportation, guidance and supervision for safety at home, please call Family First Home Companions at 631-319-3961.

Areas We Serve

We proudly serve seniors at home in Albertson, Amityville, Babylon, Baldwin, Bayport, Bay Shore, Bayville, Bellerose Terrace, Bellmore, Bellport, Bethpage, Blue Point, Bohemia, Brentwood, Brightwaters, Brookhaven, Brookville, Calverton, Carle Place, Cedarhurst, Center Moriches, Centereach, Centerport, Central Islip, Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Copiague, Coram, Deer Park, Dix Hills, East Islip, East Marion, East Meadow, East Moriches, East Northport, East Norwich, East Patchogue, East Quogue, East Rockaway, East Setauket, Eastport, Elmont, Elwood, Farmingdale, Farmingville, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Freeport,  Garden City, Glen Head Glenwood Landing,  Great Neck, Great River, Greenlawn, Greenvale, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Hempstead, Hewlett, Hicksville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Huntington, Huntington Station, Inwood,  Island Park, Islandia, Islip, Islip Terrace, Jamesport, Jericho, Kings Park, Kings Point, Lake Grove, Lawrence, Levittown, Lindenhurst, Lloyd Harbor, Locust Valley, Lynbrook, Malverne, Manhasset, Manorville, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Medford, Melville, Merrick, Middle Island, Mill Neck, Miller Place, Mineola, Moriches, Mount Sinai, Nesconset, New Hyde Park, North Amityville, North Babylon, North Lynbrook, North New Hyde Park, North Patchogue, North Valley Stream, North Woodmere,  Northport, Oakdale, Oceanside, Old Bethpage, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Patchogue,  Plainview, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Port Washington, Quogue, , Ridge, Riverhead, Rockville Centre, Rocky Point, Ronkonkoma, Roosevelt, Roslyn,  Roslyn Heights, Saint James, Sands Point, Sayville, Sea Cliff, Seaford, Selden, Shirley, Shoreham, Smithtown, Sound Beach, South Hempstead, Southampton, Stony Brook, Syosset, Uniondale, Upton, Valley Stream, Wading River, Wantagh, West Babylon, West Hempstead, West Islip, West Sayville, Westbury, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Williston Park, Woodbury, Woodmere, Wyandanch, Yaphank