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When someone you love needs answers
It can be hard to watch a parent or loved one change. It can be even harder when they do not want help. An evaluation can help you understand what may be going on. It can also help your loved one get the right care, at the right time, with respect and dignity.
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Getting mood, memory, or behavior changes checked out
Different concerns may need different types of care; getting a diagnosis helps.
A provider will choose the right questions, screenings, or tests based on what your loved one is experiencing.
Their primary care provider may also do a physical exam or mental health screening. These steps can help rule out other health issues, such as infections, thyroid problems, pain, poor sleep, or medicine side effects.
With your loved one’s permission, the provider may also ask you what you have noticed. This can be helpful because family members often notice changes the person may not. Writing down what you have noticed to help guide the evaluation process. This can include:
- When the changes started
- What seems better or worse
- Changes in mood, memory, sleep, appetite, or behavior
- Missed bills, missed medicines, falls, or safety concerns
- Personality or character changes
- Daily life functioning
- New stress, grief, pain, or major life changes
- Alcohol, prescription medicine, or substance use concerns
- Questions you want to ask the provider
Depending on the concerns, the provider might screen for the following:
Anxiety
Anxiety can show up as worry, panic, trouble sleeping, avoiding people or places, or physical symptoms like a racing heart. A provider may ask questions about how often anxiety happens and how much it affects your loved one’s daily life. They may also check for health problems that can look like anxiety.
Depression
Depression in older adults may not always look like sadness. It can look like low energy, anger, pain, memory concerns, sleeping more or less than usual, or pulling away from others. A provider may ask your loved one to answer a short set of questions about mood and daily life.
Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI
MCI means there are seemingly small changes in memory or thinking that do not affect most daily tasks. A provider may use memory and thinking tests. More testing may be needed if the changes are getting worse.
Dementia
Dementia affects memory, thinking, and daily functioning. A provider may ask about daily tasks, safety, mood, behavior, and quality of life. If Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia is possible, more testing may help show the cause.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder can cause shifts in mood, energy, sleep, and behavior. In older adults, it can sometimes look like depression, dementia, confusion, agitation or medicine side effects. Family input can be very helpful because you may notice patterns your loved one does not see.
Substance use
Alcohol, sleep medicine, pain medicine, or other substances can affect mood, memory, balance, safety, and daily life. A provider may ask about substance use privately and respectfully. They may also review medicines and check for safety risks.
If the answer is still unclear, follow-up visits or additional testing may be recommended. Your loved one may also be referred to a geriatrician, psychiatrist, or neurologist.
Questions caregivers often ask
Here are answers to common questions about mood, memory, and behavior changes in older adults. You can also call us anytime. We are here to listen.
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