Lunar New Year 2024
Year of the Dragon
Recognizing Memory Loss: Ten Warning Signs to Watch for During Lunar New Year Gatherings
As we bid farewell to the Year of the Rabbit, we welcome the Year of the Dragon, beginning February 10th. The dragon is the fifth of the Chinese zodiac, and one of the Four Holy Beasts, symbolizing auspiciousness and wisdom. It holds a significant place in many households across Asian cultures.
Reconnecting with less-frequently seen family and friends is a common celebratory tradition. From a dementia care standpoint, it presents an opportunity to pay attention to possible behavioral changes, particularly among older family members. While occasional forgetfulness can be considered normal aging, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are not normal outcomes of getting older. Overlooking dementia warning signs can lead to missed opportunities for early detection. These signs may become more evident, especially when we interact with individuals we haven’t been in regular contact with.
Ten Warning Signs
Here are ten warning signs that you may notice while visiting family members or friends during the New Year celebration:
- 1
Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Repeating questions or stories, forgetting recently learned information, and losing track of names and faces, and New Year family traditions - 2
Difficulty planning or solving problems
Trouble concentrating on detailed tasks, especially involving numbers; for example, planning and organizing New Year celebrations - 3
Forgetting how to perform familiar tasks
Forgetting the New Year family traditions, such as pre-New Year cleaning and putting up festive decorations, using wrong ingredients when cooking Year’s Eve dishes, and forgetting how to participate in cultural activities like playing mahjong - 4
Confusion with dates, time, or places
Becoming disoriented during Lunar New Year events, mistaking the timing of celebrations, or feeling lost in familiar locations, which may lead to wandering - 5
Trouble with spatial relationships
Difficulty judging distances or distinguishing colors which may result in getting tripped easily or misjudging how to arrange festive decorations harmoniously - 6
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Trouble finding the right word, calling things by the wrong name, struggling to follow conversations, or having difficulty writing New Year calligraphy correctly - 7
Misplacing objects and the inability to retrace steps
Putting objects in unusual places, such as a watch in the refrigerator, misplacing items, and being unable to retrace steps which may lead to accusing visitors of stealing - 8
Altered decision making or poor judgment
Making poor decisions such as giving away red envelopes (a traditional practice symbolizing good luck and prosperity) with excessive or inappropriate amounts of money, or dressing inappropriately for the New Year - 9
Withdrawal from social situations
Becoming less involved in New Year preparations and celebrations, watching more television, sleeping excessively during festive occasions, or avoiding socializing with others - 10
Mood swings and changes in personality
Getting upset more easily and experiencing feelings of depression, fear, or anxiety during the celebrations or when interacting with visitors
If you notice these warning signs, visiting a health professional is the first step in getting a cognitive screening. Alzheimer’s Los Angeles offers educational workshops, such as Memory Matters, to address your memory concerns. Visit the calendar page to view the workshop schedule or contact the helpline at 844-435-7259 to learn more. Happy Year of the Dragon!