A Common Issue with Dementia

One of the common issues that families of an individual with Alzheimer’s face is that the person with dementia does not tell the truth about aspects of their life. Sometimes, this comes across as something little, such as telling a loved one that they did not have breakfast when in fact they did. Or, it might be more severe than this, such as telling a doctor that nothing is wrong when there is some sort of obviously recognized issue with their health, either cognitive or physical.

 

As frustrating as this lying might be, it is one of the tell-tale signs of Alzheimer’s disease. In the early stages of the disease, the lying can be intentional to help cover up the embarrassment of memory loss. Not remembering someone’s name or what you had for breakfast is embarrassing and frustrating, and these lies are certainly not meant to be malicious. They can be more accurately described as fibs, rather than outright lies.

 

In the latter stages of the disease, the lying might become more severe, but at this stage, it is almost never intentional or meant to be harmful. Now, it is simply a symptom of the disease. This doesn’t make it any less difficult to deal with as a family, but it does present more of a reason for the inexplicable actions that a loved one might take.

 

Even though someone might not have the cognitive faculty to determine whether or not they are lying or being intentionally deceitful, the fact of the matter is that the things that they say are their reality, if only for that moment. If someone with Alzheimer’s makes comments about how they were not given breakfast, even if we know it is true because we served them and watched them eat, it’s not said to be mean, it’s said because they believe it is true.

 

Yes, this is frustrating. It can be a trying experience to not feel appreciated. But this is a symptom of the disease and not fact. Your care and love are appreciated, even if it’s not readily acknowledged.

 

Lying is a common but frustrating symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

 

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, this means that the symptoms of the disease are going to get worse and worse–including the perceived dishonesty–until the person with the disease passes away. This does not mean that they do not deserve great care, though. When looking for a caregiver, please remember that those with dementia have a different set of needs than other elderly individuals might. They need a caregiver who understands that dementia can cause people to do things that we might not fully understand. They need someone who will be patient and kind and loving regardless of what happens.

 

If you’re looking for an in-home caregiver that is trained in memory care and has experience working with people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, get in touch with us. We have a staff of professionals that are trained in this area of senior care and we would love to get to know you and see what we can do to help enhance the life of your elderly loved one.

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