World Brain Day: Understanding Brain Health Changes in a Loved One

← More Articles

Brain health affects more than memory. It can shape the way a person thinks, moves, communicates, sleeps, eats, responds emotionally, and manages daily life. For families caring for an aging loved one or someone living with serious illness, changes in brain health can feel confusing, emotional, and sometimes frightening.

World Brain Day, recognized each year on July 22, is a reminder that brain health support should be accessible, compassionate, and centered on the whole person. It is also an opportunity for families to understand better what changes may mean, when to speak up, and how the right care team can help guide the next step.

When people think about brain health, they often think first about memory loss or dementia. While memory is an important part of brain health, it is only one piece of the picture.

Brain health can also affect balance, speech, mood, personality, appetite, sleep, pain response, and the ability to complete familiar tasks. A loved one may seem more withdrawn, more restless, more tired, or less steady on their feet. They may forget routines, struggle to follow conversations, become easily agitated, or seem unlike themselves.

Sometimes these changes happen gradually. Other times, they appear suddenly. Both are worth paying attention to.

Families are often the first to notice when something feels different. A small change may not always point to something serious, but patterns and sudden shifts should be shared with a care team.

Some brain health changes to watch for include:

• • • New or worsening confusion, such as forgetting familiar people, places, or routines
    • Sudden weakness, speech changes, facial drooping, or difficulty moving
    • Unusual tiredness, agitation, restlessness, or behavioral changes
    • Increased falls, balance issues, or changes in coordination
    • Trouble swallowing, eating, sleeping, or completing daily tasks

Changes in mood, personality, or awareness

These changes can happen for many reasons, including illness progression, dehydration, infection, pain, medication changes, lack of sleep, or a more urgent medical concern. When symptoms are sudden, severe, or feel urgent, families should seek emergency help right away. For less urgent but still concerning changes, reaching out to the care team can help families understand what may be happening and what to do next.

Brain health changes not only affect the person experiencing them. They also affect the people who love and care for them.

A family caregiver may wonder, “Is this normal aging?” “Is this part of their illness?” “Should I call someone?” “Am I overreacting?” These questions are common, especially when symptoms come and go or look different from day to day.

Families do not need to have all the answers before asking for help. In fact, sharing concerns early can help the care team look for possible causes, adjust support, and offer guidance before a situation becomes more stressful.

For patients who are recovering from illness, managing a new diagnosis, or experiencing changes that make daily life more difficult, home health care can provide skilled support at home.

Home health may help patients and families monitor symptoms, improve safety, support strength and mobility, review medication concerns, and communicate changes to the physician. For someone experiencing changes in brain health, this kind of support can help families better understand what they are seeing and how to create a safer care environment.

The goal is to help patients remain as independent and supported as possible while receiving care in the place they call home.

Palliative care supports people living with serious illness by focusing on symptom relief, comfort, communication, and quality of life.

When changes in brain health are connected to a serious or ongoing condition, palliative care can help patients and families talk through goals, manage symptoms, and understand what kind of support may be appropriate. This may include help with pain, fatigue, sleep changes, agitation, emotional distress, or the stress of making care decisions.

Palliative care is not about giving up. It is about making sure the person’s needs, values, and comfort remain at the center of care.

When a loved one is living with advanced illness and care goals have shifted toward comfort, hospice can provide support for both the patient and family.

Brain health changes near the end of life may include increased confusion, restlessness, sleep changes, withdrawal, or changes in awareness. These moments can be deeply emotional for families. Hospice care helps by offering clinical guidance, comfort-focused symptom management, emotional support, spiritual care, and education about what changes may mean.

Hospice does not ask families to walk through these changes alone. It surrounds them with a team that can help them understand what is happening and how to care for their loved one with dignity and compassion.

One of the most important things a family can do is trust what they notice. If a loved one seems suddenly confused, unusually weak, harder to wake, more agitated, or simply “not like themselves,” it is worth reporting.

Sudden or severe symptoms should be treated as urgent. For other changes, contacting the care team can help families decide what steps to take next.

Brain health changes can bring uncertainty, but support can bring clarity. With the right care team, families can better understand what is happening, what matters most, and how to move forward with confidence.

At Solaris Healthcare, we believe care should support the whole person — body, mind, comfort, dignity, and family. Whether your loved one needs home health, palliative care, or hospice support, our team is here to help families navigate changes with compassion and guidance.

If you are noticing changes in a loved one’s brain health, you do not have to wait until you have all the answers. Reach out to Solaris to learn what kind of care may be right for your family.

To learn more about Solaris Healthcare services, call 888-376-5274 or visit solarisfamily.com.