Many adults experience memory lapses as they age and may wonder if these are signs of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. To better understand memory lapses, here are some tips and resources you can turn to. 

Warning Signs

As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as forgetting names or misplacing items from time to time – are associated with normal aging. However, the symptoms of dementia are more severe than mere memory lapses.

While symptoms can vary greatly, people with dementia may experience issues such as short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood.

To help you distinguish between typical age-related memory loss and signs of a more serious condition, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10 warning signs that you can review at 10signs.org.

The Alzheimer’s Association also provides information including the signs and symptoms of the different types of dementia, including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and others.

Memory Screening

A great resource to help you address your memory concerns is the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which offers a National Memory Screening Program. This free, confidential, service provides face-to-face memory screenings virtually and in real-time. The screening takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and consists of questions and tasks to evaluate your memory status. Once the screening is complete, the screener will review the results with you.

Available to everyone, these memory screenings are done daily Monday through Friday, and are administered by doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers or other healthcare professionals across the country.

A smart phone, computer, tablet or any other device with a webcam and internet capability is all that is needed. Appointments can be requested online at ALZFDN.org/memory-screening or by calling 866-232-8484. It is important to note that this screening is not a diagnosis of any condition but helps determine if you should consult with your doctor for a more thorough evaluation.

See Your Doctor

If you find that you need further evaluation, make an appointment with your primary care doctor for a cognitive checkup and medical examination. Depending on what is found, you may be referred to a geriatrician or a neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.

Experiencing some memory lapses does not necessarily mean you have dementia. Many factors like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies and other medical conditions can affect memory. Addressing these underlying causes can often reduce or eliminate memory concerns.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

1. Filing Too Early — While most taxpayers understand they should not file after the April 15, 2025, deadline (unless they have requested an extension until October 15, 2025), it is also important to avoid filing too early. Taxpayers should ensure that the IRS has opened the filing period for the tax year in which they are filing for. Filing too early can be problematic, as some taxpayers may not have received all their tax forms, such as Forms W-2, Forms 1099 or other documents required for proper filing.
2. Wrong Social Security Number — The IRS software will check your Social Security Number (SSN). It should be the same as the number that appears on your Social Security card.
3. Name Spelled Wrong — Taxpayers must list their name on the tax return. Your name should match the information on your Social Security card or other valid government identification card.
4. Error in Income — Taxpayers who manually enter their wages, dividends, bank interest or other income frequently make errors. All entries made should be carefully checked. The entries are necessary to correctly calculate credits or deductions.
5. Incorrect Filing Status — The Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) on IRS.gov may be helpful if you are not certain about your filing status. Income tax standard deductions and some exemptions will vary depending upon whether you are filing as a single person, a married couple or head of household.
6. Math Mistakes — The most common mistake taxpayers make is an error in addition or subtraction. Taxpayers using online software and filing electronically will usually avoid these miscalculations.
7. Wrong Credit or Deduction — The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) are complicated. The Interactive Tax Assistant may help determine eligibility for a specific credit or deduction.
8. Incorrect Bank Account Number — Most taxpayers who file electronically have their refund sent to their bank account. However, taxpayers must correctly type the routing and account numbers to ensure the funds are sent to the proper account.
9. Unsigned Tax Return — Taxpayers who file a paper return are required to sign the return. A joint return must be signed by both spouses. A common mistake occurs when one spouse forgets to sign the return.

Editor’s Note: Many of these errors are avoidable with the use of online software and electronic filing. If you use online software, it will check your return and avoid most of the common filing errors.

1. Gather Important Tax Paperwork — Taxpayers should have a list of common items needed for filing tax returns. These include Social Security numbers (SSNs) for the individuals on the tax return, your bank account and routing numbers, tax forms such as a W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and digital asset sale records. You should keep IRS Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement as well as any letters sent to you by the IRS.

2. Report All Income — Taxpayers are reminded that all income from any category is taxable. This could include income from goods that you created and sold online, investment income, part-time income, self-employment or business income and funds received for services through mobile apps.

3. Avoid Paper Returns — The best and safest way to file is with an electronic return or tax software. The software checks your math and guides you through each section of the return. After you have completed your data entry, a powerful benefit of tax preparation software is that it conducts hundreds of checks on your entries to ensure you have a correct return. If you file a paper tax return, your refund may be significantly delayed and the potential for filing errors increases dramatically.

4. IRS Free Resources — There are multiple resources to assist taxpayers. The IRS Free File program offers commercial software at no cost to individuals with income in 2024 of $84,000 or less. There are 25 states that participate this year in the Direct File program on IRS.gov. The web-based service is free for individuals with simple tax returns and guides you through the filing process with a series of questions and enables you to use your state’s tools to complete your state tax return. If your income is over $84,000, you can use the IRS Free File Fillable Forms. Most taxpayers with incomes of $67,000 or less, with a disability or limited English capabilities, or those age 60 and over, can benefit from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Military members may use the MilTax program.

5. Tax Filing Options — There are multiple methods for tax filing. Last year, over 54% of taxpayers used the services of a tax return preparer. The IRS maintains the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications on IRS.gov. Many individuals will use commercial software, the IRS Free File system or the IRS Direct File system. Only a small percentage of individuals are expected to prepare their own taxes without outside assistance.

6. Online Resources — Taxpayers can use multiple resources on IRS.gov. The most popular resources are the Interactive Tax Assistant and the “Let us Help you” webpage.

Driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving. With that being said, as your parent’s driving skills deteriorate over time, they might not recognize they may have a problem. For this reason, it is essential to work closely with your parent’s doctor to monitor their driving and help them stop when it is no longer safe for them to drive. Here are some tips that can help.

Watch for Warning Signs

The best way to keep tabs on your parent’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with them and watch out for warning signs. Warning signs of unsafe driving include the following:

• Do they have trouble remembering routes to familiar places?
• Do they drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffic signs?
• Do they react slowly or make poor driving decisions?
• Have they had any recent fender benders or tickets?
• Have you noticed any dents or scrapes on their vehicle?

If you need assistance with assessing your parent’s driving abilities, consider hiring a driver rehabilitation specialist. These licensed professionals are qualified and trained to evaluate a driver’s physical, perceptual and cognitive abilities to see if they can drive safely. You can find a specialist in your area by visiting Myaota.aota.org/driver_search or Aded.net.

Transition Tips

If you believe it is still safe for your parent to drive, recommend some simple adjustments to ensure their safety. These can include driving only during daylight hours, sticking to familiar routes, as well as avoiding busy roads and bad weather. You may also encourage your parent to sign a “driving contract” that designates someone to inform them when it is no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz.org/driving and click on “Download.” Once the PDF file is downloaded to your computer, you can print it out to have your parent sign it.

You may also want to consider getting a GPS tracking device to help monitor your parent’s driving. These devices allow you to track their location and let you set up zones and speed limits. You will receive alerts to your smartphone if they exit a designated area, drive too fast or brake harshly.

Time to Quit

When your parent can no longer drive safely, it will be important to have a conversation with them. It is best to start having these conversations before they need to quit driving so your parent can prepare themselves. You also should have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help them get around once they stop driving.

Refuses to Quit

If your parent refuses to stop driving, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to their doctor for a medical evaluation, and prescribe that they stop driving. Older people will sometimes listen to their doctor more readily than to their family members.

You should also consider contacting your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for help. Some states automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while many others require retaking a driving test. 

If these attempts fail, consider selling your parent’s car or moving it to another location where your parent will not have access to the vehicle. In addition, it is important to ensure your parent cannot access any other vehicles so be mindful of where car keys are left when family members, friends or medical staff visit your parent.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.