What Families Notice First (and Why It Matters)
Many families start to notice small changes long before anyone else. These changes can be brief, inconsistent, and difficult to describe. Most of the time, they do not look like seizures. They look like everyday dementia changes.
This is why they are often missed.
Seagull Notes was created to help families translate these subtle patterns into clearer language, better documentation, and more effective conversations with clinicians and care teams.
Early Signs Families Commonly Notice
Families often describe the same early signs, even when the underlying cause is not recognized. Below are patterns that appear frequently in dementia care and are worth paying attention to.
Staring or zoning out
What it looks like
sudden stillness
eyes fixed on a spot
lasts a few seconds to a minute
difficult to interrupt
Often dismissed for: “just dementia” or “daydreaming.”
Brief pauses
What it looks like
momentary “freeze”
stops mid-sentence or mid-step
resumes as if nothing happened
Often dismissed for: attention lapses or fatigue.
Sudden confusion
What it looks like
rapid shifts in awareness
brief periods of disorientation
comes and goes quickly
Often dismissed for: sundowning or normal cognitive fluctuation.
Jerks or twitches
What it looks like
small shoulder, arm, leg, or facial movements
appear random
more noticeable when tired
Often mistaken for: restlessness or agitation.
Unexplained falls
What it looks like
appears unprovoked
person may not remember falling
no clear environmental cause
Often mistaken for: balance problems or weakness.
Why These Early Signs Matter
These patterns do not automatically mean someone is having seizures.
They do mean the brain is showing signs of instability that deserve attention.
The patterns above often appear weeks or months before more noticeable neurological events. When documented clearly, they help clinicians:
understand the frequency of changes
identify possible triggers
distinguish dementia progression from neurological instability
guide next steps in evaluation
How to Document What You Are Seeing
You can use this structure for any episode or moment of concern.
Document | What you see |
|---|---|
What happened | Briefly describe the visible change. |
How long it lasted | Estimate the duration if you can. |
What happened right before | Movement, noise, stress, position changes, medications, fatigue |
What happened right after | Confusion, fatigue, returning to normal, irritability, or no change. |
Example
“Today at 3:10 pm, Mom paused mid-sentence for about 10 seconds. She stared forward and did not respond when I said her name. She resumed talking afterward and seemed tired for a few minutes.”
This level of detail helps clinicians interpret what might be happening beneath the surface.
Noticing and describing these early changes is an important first step. The Family Guide gives you a clear structure to build on.
About the Family Guide
If you are seeing any of the patterns described in this issue, you may find the Family Guide helpful. It summarizes early neurological changes that families commonly notice first and includes a simple way to document what you are seeing day to day. The guide is designed to support conversations with clinicians and help you keep track of changes over time.
