Signs and symptoms of dementia to look out for following Coronation Street’s Julie Goodyear’s diagnosis

Dementia is a devastating disease that sadly affects families all across the world, and Coronation Street’s Julie Goodyear has recently come forward about her diagnosis.

Julie Goodyear, who played Bet Lynch on the famous soap, recently announced she had been diagnosed with the disease. The 81-year-old actress’ husband, Scott Brand, said the news was “heartbreaking”.

Sadly, many families across the UK and beyond are affected by dementia every day and so it is important to know the symptoms, so you can get the help you need from healthcare professionals. Scott McGinn, the Managing Director at Baycroft Care Homes has gone over some of the more common signs.

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According to Baycroft, around 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and there are many different forms of the disease. Alzheimer’s is one of the most common which affects your memory skills and abilities while vascular dementia, which is a reduction in blood flow to the brain, is also very common.

Frontotemporal dementia is less common, but causes behavioural problems and issues with language. It is also possible for people to have multiple forms of dementia and symptoms of the different types often overlap.

Here are some of the most common, according to Mr McGinn.

Misplacing Objects

Forgetting where you put something is incredibly common, but if you have a loved one who is constantly misplacing things, it could be an early sign of dementia. This could be losing objects or finding them in strange places, such as a TV remote in the fridge.

Difficulty Focusing

One symptom of early dementia is struggling to focus or concentrate on tasks which require organisation or planning. This means a relative may struggle to pay attention to anything which needs them to focus.

Language Problems

If someone is having difficulty forming sentences or finding the write words, this could also be a sign of early dementia. Again, many people forget words when speaking, but forgetting them regularly or substituting them for others can indicate dementia.

Memory Loss

One of the most common features of dementia is memory loss. This is one of the most notable symptoms and can be very concerning.

Mr McGinn said: “In particular, less significant pieces of information – that are also perhaps harder to spot – could be early warning signs that your loved one may have dementia. For example, re-reading the newspaper, re-telling stories, or forgetting an acquaintance’s name.

“If you do start to notice any patterns, Whether your loved one is frequently forgetting the names of people they know, or is unable to recall recent events or new information learned, it’s best to get them checked out by a doctor.”

Mood Changes

Another symptom of dementia is frequent mood swings. This is because people suffering from the disease grow frustrated with themselves, often for no obvious reason.

This can look like a person changing from calm to angry or if they generally become more withdrawn and anxious.

Difficulty carrying out daily tasks

If a family member is finding difficulty in carrying out their daily tasks, such as cooking a favourite recipe or counting money, this could be a sign.

Confusion

Confusion around a time or place is another sign of dementia. Mr McGinn said: “For example, your elderly family member might become lost on a street they have walked down their whole life and struggle to find their way home.

“Differently, your loved one might get confused about time, being unable to distinguish between their past and present. This could include confusing family members with people from their past, like their own parents, and struggling to remember people from their present, like their grandchildren.”

How you can help if you think someone you love has dementia

When it comes to helping your family member, Mr McGinn says the first step is to get a diagnosis from a specialist. You can do this by first making an appointment to the GP and it is best to accompany the person displaying signs to the doctors.

He added: “Once seen by a GP, if the doctor thinks the patient needs to be referred, they can visit one or multiple specialists including a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or geriatrician,” Stewart says.

“This will often include more memory tests, tests to assess thinking abilities and problem-solving, and scans like a CT scan or MRI.”

There is help available for people who suffer from the disease such as helplines. Alzheimer’s UK can answer questions at 0300 111 511 while the Alzheimer’s Society can also help at 0333 150 3456. In addition, the Dementia UK helpline can be contacted at 0800 888 6678.

Mr McGinn said: “If you are concerned that your loved one is struggling to deal with everyday tasks and is no longer able to live alone, it’s important to contact social services to request a needs assessment.

“This assessment will determine the type of help the person living with dementia will require, whether it’s carers visiting the home or whether they’ll need to go into more permanent care. There will also be a financial assessment to determine how much your family member or your family will need to contribute.”

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