Submitted on Monday November 7th, 2011
Money matters are often intensely private. And no one wants to infringe on a family member’s independence. Yet it is through (sometimes expensive) financial mishaps that you may learn of changes in your parent’s memory and thinking.
Signs of a problem
Diseases that affect memory also tend to impair arithmetic skills and reasoning. That’s why money trouble can suggest the onset of dementia. Be alert for the following changes:
- Difficulty counting change or balancing a checkbook
- Frequent late payment of bills
- Confusion about banking transactions
- Unusual or repetitive purchases
- Accusations that others are stealing from them
- Investing in sweepstakes or other “get rich quick” schemes