How to Encourage a Loved One to Take a Dementia Test at Home
Is someone you care about showing signs of memory loss but reluctant to see their doctor? Are you worried that you keep forgetting things and you think it’s just what people do as they get older. But secretly you think there might be something wrong with your memory. You’re not alone. It’s a difficult conversation, but encouraging a friend or relative to take a simple dementia test at home may help them realise something’s not quite right — and motivate them to get the help they need. Or you could just want to take a test for memory loss yourself to give reassurance that all is ok.
💡 Why Take a Dementia Test at Home?
Early diagnosis is key when it comes to memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. Catching symptoms early can:
- Help the person get the best treatment and support.
- Delay further decline with early intervention.
- Provide families time to prepare and access resources.
For someone reluctant to visit their GP, a do-at-home dementia test can be a useful first step. It may help them recognise potential memory issues in a non-threatening, private way.
📝 Two Simple Dementia Tests You Can Do at Home
While home tests can’t replace a professional diagnosis, they may help identify memory problems that need further investigation. Here are two widely-used at-home dementia screening tests:
1. 🧩 Word Association Test
Our brains store thousands of words over our lifetime. Being unable to retrieve or group them under basic categories may point to early memory issues.
How to Perform the Test
- Ask the person to name as many animals as they can in 1 minute.
- Then, ask them to name as many types of fruit as they can in 1 minute.
✅ What’s Normal?
- A healthy adult typically names 20–25 items.
- Someone with potential memory issues may name only 10–15 or fewer.
2. 🕒 The Clock Drawing Test
The clock drawing test is one of the most effective and widely used screening tools for dementia, both by doctors and caregivers. It helps assess memory, visual-spatial awareness, and executive function.
How to Do It:
Ask the person to:
- Draw a clock on a blank sheet of paper.
- Add the numbers 1 through 12 in the correct order.
- Draw hands to show a specific time, like 3:00.
📝 How to Score:
Give 1 point for each of the following:
- A round, complete clock circle.
- All numbers (1–12) included.
- Numbers in the correct order and position.
- Two clock hands present.
- Clock shows the correct time.
✅ What’s a Normal Score?
- A score of 4 or 5 points is considered normal.
- A score of 3 or below may indicate cognitive impairment and should prompt a GP visit.
- Yexley, Peter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 49 Pages – 10/16/2024 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
🧠 Want to Test Your Own Brain Health?
Alzheimer’s Research UK has created a helpful online brain health tool, in partnership with researchers from University College London.
👉 Try the Think Brain Health Check-in
This interactive tool helps you explore how healthy your brain is and how you might reduce your risk of dementia later in life.
📣 Final Thoughts: Encouraging the Next Step
Talking to someone about their memory can feel daunting. But encouraging them to take a simple do-at-home dementia test may help them recognise symptoms early — and take the next step toward getting help.
If any of the test results are concerning, it’s important to contact a GP for further assessment and support.
I must admit I’m curious about testing as above. Currently I can pass the 2 above without much problem. However, when the neurologist tested me on remembering 3 words (same ones each time but in different order) both times I missed 1 word (different word each time). A year ago I could remember 4 words without much problem. Unfortunately, anything somewhat complex I have problems with (think suduko, I have no clue anymore how to do even the simpler ones). I can no longer manage my finances well. Short term memory is terrible, long term is less so but there is some loss there as well. I often lose track of my conversations, totally forget what I was talking about in the middle of conversations. I also have anger control issues at times and I isolate more because of it because I find it terribly distressing. Add into this my maternal aunt was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 58, died at 68 from it. My maternal grandfather and uncle developed Alzheimer’s in their 80’s so rather late onset. So I am now 63 and have had increasing difficulties for, perhaps, the last 5-10 years and wonder if I should have more definative testing and if so, what tests? Any ideas out there about this?
Forgot to add in that my mother and other maternal uncle died tragically of suicide at relatively young ages and so we will never know if they might have developed it later on. Thanks.
Hello Jeannie,
Sorry to hear you are experiencing these problems. What I would recommend is that you visit your doctor as soon as you can. Let them know the kind of problems you are having. There are also some helplines you can ring to discuss your worries with.
You can call the national dementia helpline on 0300 222 11 22. They can help get you some help.
Good luck and I wish you well
I am so scared that I have signs of dementia ! My mom died from complications due from dementia . She knew very people by name at the end! Thank you God she knew immediate family pretty well! So sad to see loved one like this!
I am 73 and feel like I am having memory problems and want to find out how to prevent this from happening
Hello Mary,
I’m sorry to hear this. There are a couple of helplines that you could ring and speak to somebody if you are feeling scared about being diagnosed with dementia.
There is the national dementia helpline, Telephone 0300 222 11 22
Dementiauk also provide a helpline. The number is 0800 888 6678
I hope these numbers help and I wish you all the best now and into the future.
So where do we find these tests?
Hello Chris. Thanks for the comment.
These are designed to be do-at-home dementia tests. We don’t provide them or recommend anywhere to buy them. You just need a pen and paper to take the do at home dementia tests.
In the future we are hoping to be able to provide a printable sheet with a simple test on there that you download or print off to make taking the dementia test easier.
Thanks again
yep not good cant do it
Hello Craig, I’m sorry to hear you can’t do the test. I’ve sent you some more details on other available tests you can try and my thoughts on what you can do.
Good luck
John