Model Answer Unit 3, Activity 2.0, How does Memory Change in Older Age?
The answer will be personal to you. However, what will be important to you is to identify symptoms of people suffering from Dementia and how to distinguish these from common age-related memory changes, in the participants you will come across in your sessions, such as those listed in the table on this website:
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Normal age-related memory changes |
Symptoms that may indicate dementia |
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Able to function independently and pursue normal activities, despite occasional memory lapses |
Difficulty performing simple tasks (paying bills, dressing appropriately, washing up); forgetting how to do things you’ve done many times |
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Able to recall and describe incidents of forgetfulness |
Unable to recall or describe specific instances where memory loss caused problems |
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May pause to remember directions, but doesn’t get lost in familiar places |
Gets lost or disoriented even in familiar places; unable to follow directions |
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Occasional difficulty finding the right word, but no trouble holding a conversation |
Words are frequently forgotten, misused, or garbled; Repeats phrases and stories in same conversation |
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Judgment and decision-making ability the same as always |
Trouble making choices; May show poor judgment or behave in socially inappropriate ways |
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