Symptoms of Dementia in Seniors

Dementia is progressive and the symptoms of dementia in seniors can be divided into three main categories: mild, moderate and advanced.

Mild Dementia

Symptoms of mild dementia can be less noticeable, such as:

• difficulty with complex tasks (such as paying bills)
• asking the same questions over and over
• difficulty finding the right words to communicate
• recognizing faces but having trouble remembering names

Moderate Dementia

Signs of moderate dementia may be more obvious, such as:

• behavior and personality changes
• unable to learn new things
• may not recognize his/her own children
• difficulty naming common objects of expressing needs/desires
• may become lost when away from home
• may become withdrawn or physically/verbally abusive
• difficulty operating routine equipment such as a stove or car
• may not know what day, month, year it is or where they are

Advanced Dementia

Symptoms of advanced dementia are very noticeable, such as:

• confusion
• assistance with activities of daily living such as washing, dressing, eating, toiletting
• as the disease worsens, difficulty walking, standing or swallowing may occur