The early stage of dementia marks a beginning that will bring with it significant changes for you and the people who care about you.
You will likely retain many of your abilities and require minimal assistance during this stage. You may have insight into your changing abilities and therefore, can inform others of your experience of living with the disease and help to plan and direct your future care. You may also be feeling overwhelmed and apprehensive about the future. It is normal for both you and your family to have many mixed emotions including feelings of grief and sadness.
Please note that the term “early stage” refers to people of any age who have mild impairments because of dementia. This differs from the term “early onset.” Early or young onset refers to people who have been diagnosed with dementia at a younger age than usual, typically in their 50s or very early 60s. Take the quiz below to learn some helpful strategies for dealing with common symptoms in the early stage of dementia.
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What to expect as the person’s dementia progresses