Shocking Symptom: Proprioception and Dementia

Hey Careblazers! 👋 In today’s must-watch video, we're tackling a critical yet often overlooked symptom of dementia — difficulty with proprioception. This is all about understanding your loved one’s ability to perceive where they are in space, which can drastically impact their safety and independence.

🔍 What You'll Learn:
-Proprioception Explained: Discover what proprioception is and why it's vital for those with dementia.
-Signs of Decline: How to spot if your loved one is losing this crucial ability.
-Safety Tips: Practical steps to enhance safety at home.
-Therapy Insights: How occupational and physical therapy can make a huge difference.

Whether you're caring for someone with dementia or just eager to learn more about how this condition affects spatial awareness, this video is packed with insights and actionable tips. If you've seen changes in how your loved one navigates their world, drop a comment below — let’s start a conversation!

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📜 DISCLAIMER: The content of this video - or any content by Dementia Careblazers - does not replace the need for healthcare professionals. Our content is not healthcare advice and is not a substitute for your own healthcare. It is for general education only. Do not use this content to self-diagnose or self-treat any health, medical, or physical condition. By consuming content from Dementia Careblazers, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify Dementia Careblazers LLC for any and all losses, injuries, or damages resulting from any and all claims that arise from your use or misuse of this content. All content or recommendations on the company’s website, social media, blog, or email series. All comments from Dementia Careblazers’ are expressions of opinion only.

👩‍🔬 I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist. (A clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults.) One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
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It’s our mission to make dementia caregiving easier for families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, or any other type of dementia. We believe that in order to create a more dementia friendly world, we must first create a caregiver friendly world. That's why we create free educational training videos like this one so that anyone with an internet connection can get access to dementia care information.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

[DementiaCareblazers]

Explore our Care Course for personalized support, live Q&As with dementia experts, and a supportive caregiver community:

[lollyd]

My Mom was experiencing much clumsiness during the last year or two. She would try and set something down only to set in on the edge of whatever surface. She was not very mobile at 94 and 95 years, so we didn't have the falling issues. So many things left her (and me, sorry to say) frustrated. But her dementia progressed slowly, so I am grateful we had her without too many severe symptoms all the way to her death last February. I miss her, but I also know she is in the presence of our God and so many loved ones who went before her.❤

[susanmann]

I am not my care provider. I am myself, learning all that I can!

[juliewilkins]

This is the very first symptom that we noticed in my mother-in-law. It came years before her actual diagnosis and continues to progress. Thank you for the informative video!

[paigesquires]

I'm 49 and have developed issues with proprioception and peripheral neuropathy over the last 18 months, memory isn't so great either. Might be time to visit the doctor.

[sw]

It could also be that the person needs a new prescription for their glasses. If the two eyes don’t both see clearly your depth perception is impaired. Additionally, if you’re wearing bi-or tri-focals on stairs you could easily take a spill because the close reading focal length in the bottom of the glasses isn’t made for looking downward four feet and seeing clearly.

[djprews]

Thank you Dr Natali My husband has increased proprioception for several months nw. He is clumsy, tentative in his movements and does things very slowly. He has poor balance and difficulty walking. I have made his geriatrician aware as well as our family doctor. .

[edwardb]

Yes, I have noticed the person hesitates when walking, walks more slowly than before, occasionally bumps into things, and, in the past two years, has had falls that required in-patient treatment in a hospital or clinic. Further, those problems are combined with disorientation to space and time. It seems that her body and mind are confused. She sometimes seems lost even when in familiar surroundings. I sense the problem and "redirect" her.

[susanpolk]

My husband started leaning to one side and shuffling without picking up his feet about five years ago. We had no idea what to call it, along with a lack of diagnosis of his dementia issues at the local memory clinic. Wish I had had this information back then! And I am looking forward to your executive functioning video. In my husband's case, I believe that's what went first, as many as twelve years ago.

[kathygill]

My MILWD has vascular dementia diagnosed by her primary. No neurologist. Never going to be...she refuses to participate in further testing or to take most prescribed meds. She has has the shuffle for some time now and been "clumsy" for years. We are noticing of late that she is dropping things or misjudging where to place something when she sets it down on table or counter. We thought her macular degeneration was to blame but this seems more likely the cause. Thank you for giving it a name 🙂

[sharroneastman]

Husband has experienced all of the things you have mentioned. He is in a motorized wheelchair and has damaged every doorway and door in our house as he has lost the ability to navigate making turns and entering the doorway. Also, everything is just dropped to the floor as it is difficult for him to "see" where it should go.

[lorrainewaddell]

My husband is 6 years into his Alzheimers journey. He has all of these symptoms. He also has the visual eye/brain disconnect from Posterior Cortical Atrophy. Luckily we got him using walking sticks early on, and he has become very dependent on them. He also can manage snaps on his shirts a lot easier than buttons.

[cynthiadeere]

My husband has an MCI diagnosis. He has reduced fine motor ability, his walking lacks the confidence he once had and he always looks at the ground when he is walking outdoors. Also, he is unaware of being in others way in grocery stores, or in public places where there are a lot of people. Definitely a change I have noticed.

[angelaharris]

It's so important that they see a Neurologist who will refer them to have cognitive studies. Some of the different dementia's have meds that can slow the progression of this disease. I know from my cognitive studies I do not have Alzheimer's. I just started with a new Neurologist who is great. I fired my last one for many reasons, but the worst was he prescribed me medication that a few days in, I researched it. It was for only Alzheimer's dementia and can make ppl with other types worse!!! 8 have seen my new Neuro once, and already had a Brain MRI And an EEG as well as specific blood work. My last Neuro only did a brain CR scan!

[kathy]

I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & Apropriception. After my father died I became my Mother's (who has Alzheimers Dementia) 24/7 caregiver. And the topic could not be any truer. I watch her difficulties but it never occurred to me that she also has a lack of Propriception. Now I know about this syptom I can try to be more watchful about her movements. Although I am the one who had to put foam over the foot of the bed to stop the scratching and gouges on my legs! 😊

[culturematters]

Cute hairdo, Natali 💇‍♀ Thanks for your helpful videos!

[bollybelly]

My husband has Parkinson’s with dementia and has all of the symptoms that you mention for proprioception. Adding to the list for him is being impulsive; getting up from a chair to start ambulating before having a plan of where he’s going. He stumbles a lot with his walker and of course has had many falls over the years. He also tends to want to park his walker and continue on without it. He very much NEEDS the walker as he would definitely fall without it.

[vickieray]

yes my mom has fallen numerous times, she doesn't pick her feet up

[halimakhan]

Thank you.... Yes All the above mentioned

[mygreenenvy]

Almost every single thing you describe in this video is also true for Parkinson's. My wife experienced all of these problems. She also started to have problems finding her mouth when lifting a spoonful food. She had more falls than I could count. There were many times I was able to catch her and many when I could not. Unfortunately, once a person starts to reach this stage and deals with these issues there is no Physical therapy, Occupational therapy or cognitive training that can really help at all. The condition continues to decline and deteriorate. There are no meds that really help either. Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but it's just the sad reality of advanced PD or Alzheimer's.