What Tests Are There for Dementia? How Do You Know When It’s Time to Look for an Assisted Living Facility?

How Can You Know Whether You Have Dementia?

Dementia is the general name of a series of problems that affect the brain and result in the deterioration of various brain activities and capabilities. It is pretty difficult to diagnose such problems. There are several methods that have been developed to help detect that. The most commonly used ones are MMSE and MoCA. That means Mini-Mental State Exam and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. This article will help you find out how the MMSE test works and how to use it. If it turns out that you or a loved one will need an assisted living facility, we will help you find it.

This test is used to determine if a person has any signs of progressing dementia. It’s a short test. It takes only ten minutes, and it is designed to evaluate a person’s cognitive functions. That includes aspects and functions such as language, memory, calculation, and so on. This test is not something new. It’s a traditional tool for diagnosing dementia.

This is a 30-point test, so you will need to understand how the scoring works. Every question brings different points depending on the performance. In the end, you calculate the results, and anything under 24 suggests that the tested person could have cognitive impairment or dementia.

Here is what the questions include:

1. First, you need to test the orientation of the patient. Ask for the current date – day, month, year, season, day of the week. (5 points)
2. Ask for the current place of the person – city, state, country, street, building, and so on.(5 pts.)
3. Test their memory registration by saying the names of 3 objects. Ask the person to repeat them after you. Then ask them to remember those words for later. (3 pts.)
4. Next, you have to test their attention. Ask them to spell a 5-letter word forward and backwards. Also, ask them to count down from a hundred by 7s. (93,86, 79, 72, and so on) This test is 5 points too.
5. Test their memory by asking them to repeat the three words that you told them earlier. (3 pts.)
6. To test their language skills, you need to point at an object and ask the person to tell you its name. Try with a watch and a pen. (2 pts.)
7. Ask the person to repeat after you: “no ifs, ands, or buts.” This tests repetition skills. (1 point)
8. Give them 3-step commands to see if they can follow. (3 pts.)
9. Write a command on a folded piece of paper, and let the person read and follow it. (1 point)
10. Ask them to write a sentence with a noun and a verb in it. The sentence should make sense (3 pts.)
11. Ask them to copy a geometric symbol or sign. (1 point)

Discover the ideal Assisted Living Facility

If the score is under 24, we recommend you consult with a specialist from an assisted living facility . If you’re located in San Marcos, CA, just call TheraSearch at (760) 294-4550, and we will help you find the right facility for you.