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Memory checklist

Memory, thinking and daily changes checklist.

Answer a more detailed set of questions, receive a clearer score, and save a practical summary to discuss with a GP if you have concerns.

Before you start

This checklist is not a dementia diagnosis and does not replace a doctor, nurse or formal cognitive assessment. It is a practical way to record changes you or someone close to you has noticed over time.

Seek urgent medical help now if confusion, memory changes or behaviour changes came on suddenly, are rapidly getting worse, or happen with symptoms such as weakness, speech trouble, chest pain, severe headache, fever, dehydration, a fall or injury.

1. Remembering recent information

Forgetting recent conversations, visits, phone calls, appointments or events more than would be usual for the person.

2. Repeating questions or stories

Asking the same question, telling the same story, or needing the same information repeated more often than before.

3. Misplacing items

Losing important items, putting things in unusual places, or being unable to retrace steps to find them.

4. Familiar tasks

Having new difficulty with familiar tasks such as cooking, using appliances, shopping, banking, medications or household routines.

5. Planning or problem solving

Finding it harder to plan, organise, follow steps, manage money, solve practical problems or make everyday decisions.

6. Concentration in busy places

Becoming more confused, overwhelmed or unable to concentrate in shops, appointments, gatherings, traffic or other busy environments.

7. Time, dates and appointments

Losing track of dates, days, seasons, appointment times, medication times or the order things happened in.

8. Place, directions or getting lost

Becoming unsure where they are, taking longer to find their way, getting lost in familiar places, or feeling less confident going out.

9. Finding words or names

Struggling to find common words, names or the right word for familiar things more than before.

10. Following conversations

Losing the thread of conversations, finding group conversations harder, repeating themselves, or withdrawing because talking feels harder.

11. Judgement and decision making

New concerns with judgement, scams, spending, personal decisions, risk taking, social judgement or choices that seem unlike them.

12. Safety at home or in the community

Concerns with cooking safety, medication safety, driving, falls, wandering, leaving doors unlocked, or managing risks when out.

13. Mood or personality changes

Becoming unusually anxious, low, suspicious, irritable, fearful, confused, disinhibited, less patient or unlike their usual self.

14. Behaviour changes

New agitation, restlessness, repeated checking, changes in sleep, unusual routines, distress, confusion late in the day or behaviour that worries others.

15. Initiative and social withdrawal

Pulling back from hobbies, work, volunteering, community activities, family contact or personal interests because thinking or confidence feels harder.

16. Personal care or household routines

Needing more prompting or support with meals, cleaning, hygiene, dressing, appointments, paperwork or keeping the home running.

17. Change compared with their usual self

The changes are different from the person's normal personality, habits, abilities or level of independence.

18. Pattern over time

The changes are ongoing, gradually worsening, or have been noticed by family, friends, carers, support workers or health professionals.

What to take to the doctor

Take examples of changes, when they started, how often they happen, whether they are getting worse, and a list of current medicines. A family member, friend, carer or support worker can also attend if they have noticed changes.

You can also call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Official information