- Home
- About
- Blog
- Family/Pets
- Elderly and scams
- Adult Child Relationship
- Seniors and Facility Care
- Memory Issues When Aging
- Remind Seniors What to Do
- elderly need routines
- Seniors Need People
- Neurological Testing
- ASK PARENTS FOR STORIES
- Dementia Dad vs Dad
- Elderly Romance and Care
- Elderly Get Junk Mail
- Power of Attorney Seniors
- Senior to Quit Driving
- Facility and Sickness
- Threatening Mail
- Supportive Staff in Home
- Find the Right Facility
- Who’s Judging Whom
- Play With Your Pets
- Lumpy Dog
- Pet no-no's
- No Leftovers for Dogs
- Training Your Dog
- Dog Probiotics
- Dog Teeth Care
- Christian
- How to Pray
- Volunteer & Take Classes
- Artifacts
- Faith
- Easter Unending
- Twins
- I Want
- Prayers Answered
- Lent
- What is Christmas About?
- Cult Bible Study
- God Gives Us the Tools
- Bible is History
- Miracles
- Miracle Stories
- Miracle Stories 2
- Miracle Stories 3
- Miracle Stories 4
- Animal Miracles
- Christian Fun - Jokes
- Christian Fun 2
- Christian Fun 3
Neurological Testing for Dementia
Neurological Testing of Seniors
Testing of seniors should include a neurological test, testing for dementia and Alzheimer's, when behaviors become a concern.
The initial testing of mental decline is by using either the SLUMS or MOCA test. These are only indicators of decline – given some time apart (like a year apart) would show if there is a lower or same score (30 is a top score which normal, younger people would get a perfect score on). If the score drops there is concern of mental decline. This is not a “cognitive” test – it is only an indicator. My dad dropped to 16 so a cognitive test was ordered.
We had our dad tested with a neurologist office. The neurological test is covered by Medicare less a small deductible (right now it was $25 for us). It is testing of seniors for dementia and Alzheimer’s and how far long either is. Recommendations will be made on further care and issues.
It was a comprehensive, telling neurological test. He had some normal areas of cognition and other areas which were low on a scale. The low scores were indicative of progressing dementia and inability to function independently for much longer.
After he left the neurological test results meeting, he became combative about not giving up his mail or his driving. His mail is piles of scams, sweepstakes, and political mailings, all asking for money. We want it forwarded to us so we can just give him the mail he should get (if there even is any – the scams have exponentially overtaken the amount of legitimate mail). He thought he will lose all his freedoms if he loses his mail and his car. We cannot afford to deal with his “donations” – already many thousands of dollars have been thrown away toward them. All are of some “urgent” nature, like Congress is taking Social Security away from him, so to save Social Security they need him to send his Social Security money to them. I keep telling him to call his representative directly with his concerns – and gave a number to call to express his concern, instead of mailing money or replying (it will increase the junk mail). I am sure he hasn’t called.
The amount of mail that is sent to the elderly to rob them of their money is appalling. The pitch makes everything seem dire that they will lose everything (and they will lose everything if they keep donating. The dumbing down of the mind continues with this type of obsession. Testing for dementia is appropriate when this begins to take over the life of a senior.
The neurological test showed his inability to make quick decisions or even react fast would be a detriment to driving.
Testing of seniors gives a good assessment of how we should treat them going forward.
Memory is failing in several categories. Short term and longer recall is challenging. I knew that already – he remembers so little from one part of a conversation to repeating the same thing or same question I just answered. The testing for dementia only confirmed what we thought.
The test proved the issues we have been seeing him decline in. We were surprised with a couple results that were in the normal range. He must have had a good day, or the presentation of the test questions was something he related to. The ones that tested low were pretty obvious to us.
The test will make recommendations which could include a medication, or to stop driving, or a timeframe to move into dependent living, etc. The test will make recommendations which could include a medication, or to stop driving, or a timeframe to move into dependent living, etc. Dad was able to remain in independent living as long as he is no danger to himself or others and is able to groom himself. As he declines further, we will need to make further decisions on his care and living level.
We do know that he has to have more contact with people and talk more. We are moving him to the independent apartments from the single unit duplex area (where he did not meet a single neighbor and became a hermit in his unit). Maybe he can walk with others. Maybe he will go to the gym. Maybe he will play games or watch a movie with someone. Any of that can help more connections in the brain and slow the digression.
A neurological cotest is useful information we can use going forward in making decisions for elderly care. It also sets up an important piece that the legal system and other caretakers may need to enforce care choices, like taking car keys away, checkbooks and credit/debit cards away, forward mail away, and the appropriate housing situation, etc.
PR