Is it Denial?
Care partners often report frustration with what they believe is denial when the individual they are caring for does not admit to having dementia. Studies estimate up to 80% of individuals living with Dementia lack insight into their diagnosis and changing brain. They do not acknowledge the disease because they do not realize they have Dementia. The term for this condition is Anosognosia.
Anosognosia is a symptom of damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. The definition of anosognosia is “without knowledge of disease”. This means the person experiencing anosognosia is not aware and lacks insight into their disease. Anosognosia is not denial. Denial is a refusal or unwillingness to accept something as true. So, with denial there is awareness, and it is a choice to not accept the information whereas with anosognosia there is no awareness, and it is not a choice.
It can be tempting for care partners to argue and try to convince the person they are caring for that they have dementia, but this only creates more frustration for both the individual living with dementia and their care partner. Individuals living with dementia are often convinced they are still healthy and competent. Anosognosia isn’t treatable when caused by dementia and it can be one of the main reasons people with dementia refuse medications and help with personal care or other daily routines.
Care partners can benefit from learning strategies that might include:
- Listening and validating feelings of the individual living with dementia.
- Doing tasks together and not for them to decrease frustration.
- Breaking down tasks into one to two steps at a time to facilitate success which in turn gives a sense of achievement without pointing out that they need help.
Caring for someone living with dementia can be exhausting and frustrating. Learning strategies and connecting with other caregivers can provide the needed support, which is essential for care partners wellbeing.
Susan Raychard, MOTR/L, CDP