💙 This Father’s Day: Honoring Dad While Navigating Dementia & Alzheimer’s 💙

Father’s Day is a special time to celebrate the men who helped shape our lives. Whether he taught you how to ride a bike, balance a budget, or show up when it matters—Dad has always been a steady presence. But for many families, this Father’s Day brings mixed emotions as they begin to notice changes in their father’s memory, behavior, or ability to manage day-to-day life.

If you’ve started to see signs that something may be “off,” it could be more than just normal aging. Dementia and Alzheimer’s affect men differently than women, and early detection can make all the difference.

🧠 Common Warning Signs of Dementia in Men:

While symptoms vary, here are some signs that may appear more prominently in men:

• Irritability or uncharacteristic anger: Men may show frustration more openly than women.

• Withdrawal from social or family activities: A loss of interest in hobbies, friendships, or family traditions.

• Difficulty managing responsibilities: Struggling with finances, tools, household tasks, or directions.

• Denial or defensiveness: Many men are less likely to admit when something feels wrong.

• Risky or poor decision-making: Falling for scams or displaying unsafe behavior.

• Mood swings, depression, or anxiety: Emotional shifts can signal cognitive changes.

🩺 When to Involve a Doctor:

If you or your family are noticing these changes, don’t wait to bring it up. Speaking with a family physician or a Gerontologist (a doctor who specializes in aging) is an essential first step. They can help assess whether the changes are due to dementia, another health condition, or even a treatable issue like vitamin deficiency or medication side effects.

Your doctor may recommend a cognitive evaluation, imaging, or a referral to a neurologist or memory care specialist. Early diagnosis gives families more time to plan, support, and connect.

💬 This Father’s Day, Start the Conversation:

This can be a natural time to talk with siblings, spouses, or your care circle about concerns. Come from a place of love, not fear. Start by saying something like, “I’ve noticed Dad seems a bit different lately—have you noticed anything too?” Then, take that united concern to your healthcare provider.

🏡 Our Senior Living Advisors Are Here to Help:

At Family Ties Senior Placement Services, we guide families through these tough transitions with compassion and expertise. If your dad may need memory care, assisted living, or just a little more support than he’s getting now, we’re ready to walk that journey with you—from assessment to placement.

📚 Recommended Resource:

For more help understanding memory loss and caregiving, we recommend this excellent guide from the Alzheimer’s Association:

👉 Caring for a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease

This Father’s Day, let’s honor the past—and plan for the future.

Whether Dad is still in the early stages of change or further along in the journey, you don’t have to do this alone. Let Family Ties Senior Placements help you find peace of mind and the right care at the right time.

Make a decision to celebrate today and plan for tomorrow to help dad continue his legacy for years to come.