# Dementia: Signs, Assessment and Daily Care

> Practical guidance on dementia warning signs, medical assessment, safer daily care, sudden confusion, and caregiver support.

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Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing

Dementia affects memory, thinking, communication and everyday activities. Different diseases can cause it, and symptoms usually worsen over time.

Sudden confusion over hours or days is not typical gradual dementia and may be a medical emergency caused by infection, stroke, medicines or another illness.

## Changes that need assessment

- Repeatedly forgetting recent events or conversations
- Getting lost in familiar places or losing track of time
- Difficulty managing money, medicines, cooking or familiar tasks
- Problems finding words, following conversation, planning or making decisions
- Changes in mood, judgement, personality or social behaviour

## Why medical assessment matters

A clinician can review the pattern and check for conditions that may mimic or worsen memory problems, including depression, hearing or vision loss, thyroid problems, infection, stroke, sleep problems and medicine effects.

- Bring a medicines list and examples of changes
- Ask about safety with driving, cooking, money and living alone
- Discuss legal, financial and care preferences early while the person can participate

## Safer daily support

- Keep routines, labels, clocks and lighting clear and familiar
- Use one instruction at a time and allow extra time to respond
- Check food, fluids, pain, constipation, hearing, vision and sleep
- Secure medicines, dangerous tools and exits when wandering is a concern
- Protect dignity; involve the person in choices and meaningful activities

## Urgent changes

Seek urgent medical care for sudden confusion, new weakness or facial droop, fever, a fall or head injury, seizure, inability to wake, severe dehydration, or immediate risk of harm.

## Related guides

[Caregiver guidance](https://www.drhnroy.org/caregiver-guidance/)[Medication safety](https://www.drhnroy.org/medication-safety/)[Emergency help](https://www.drhnroy.org/emergency-mental-health-help/)

Sources and review

## How this guide was prepared

Prepared by the Dr H N Roy Mental Health Awareness Initiative editorial team from the public-health sources below. Last editorial review: 14 September 2026.

Medical-review status: General educational content; no individual clinical reviewer is named. Do not use this page as diagnosis or personalised medical advice.

- [World Health Organization: Dementia](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia)
- [World Health Organization: Interventions for carers of people with dementia](https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/treatment-care/mental-health-gap-action-programme/evidence-centre/dementia/interventions-for-carers-of-people-with-dementia)
- [Government of India: Emergency Response Support System 112](https://112.gov.in/)

[Read our editorial and correction policy](https://www.drhnroy.org/editorial-policy/)

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This content is general education, not a diagnosis, prescription, emergency service or confirmed appointment. For immediate danger, call India’s emergency number 112 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.