10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's -- Sign No. 4

Almost everyone has been lost at some time or another, either as a child or when in a new or unfamiliar location. People with Alzheimer's may get lost in their own home. Although a person may be temporarily confused, typically, the correct information is sorted out. A person with Alzheimer's can forget where they are and how they got there.

Trouble with time and space is often one of the most alarming conditions to those having responsibility for those with Alzheimer's. In an area like Phoenix, Arizona it can be life threatening to walk outside in the summer and forget where you are. One of my friends became so disoriented on his way home from Church that he ended up in a parking lot in Tucson, almost three hours away from his home. Persistent disorientation as to time or place is a cause for concern.

Another potentially fatal issue is that of medication. It is natural to be unable to remember if you took a certain pill or not, from time to time. However, with Alzheimer's a person may take several pills a day or fail to take any at all.

It is significant that care centers focus on physical security and medications. These are two of the most disturbing attributes of the condition. If someone you know has consistent trouble with time or place, they need help immediately.