Neurological Testing for Dementia

Neurological Testing of Seniors

Testing of seniors should include a neurological test, testing for dementia and Alzheimers, when behaviors become a concern.

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. We don’t know yet what the recommendations are, but we will use them to make further decisions.

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 test 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.