Dealing with Anosognosia

It’s difficult enough when a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia, or other illnesses like strokes, brain tumors, or mental illnesses. But when they aren’t aware that they have the condition, it can be doubly worse. This is called Anosognosia, and it can make caring for the affected individual quite challenging.

A historical case of anosognosia involved President Wilson.His stroke in 1919 left him more mentally than physically impaired. This was noticed by his staff and close associates, but the President himself didn’t realize that they were acting strangely due to the fact that he was acting differently.He became suspicious and even paranoid because of their change in attitude and personality, without ever realizing that the stroke had caused his brain to change. 

Anosognosia happens because the frontal lobes are affected during the course of the illness.This part of the brain plays a crucial role in problem solving and understanding social experiences. This part of the brain detects when problems within our bodies happen, and processes that information accordingly. If something happens to this part of the brain, the individual can no longer process that information and they don’t realize that they are impaired.

If you suspect someone you love has anosognosia coupled with dementia, there are some things to look out for:

• They’re having a difficult time managing money or bills
• They become angry when you confront them about their lack of self-care, poor decisions, or forgetfulness
• They aren’t keeping up with their normal daily tasks or hygiene
• They aren’t concerned about their behavior during conversations, they seem uninhibited
• They fabricate answers that they seem to believe are true, but pieces of that truth are imaginary, they read it somewhere, or they recall it from their past.

If someone you love has anosognosia, try being gentle and encouraging with them. Give them a schedule of tasks so that they stay on track with their personal care. You can work with them to pay bills and manage their money, and think about employing an in-home caregiver to help.

Are you located in the Anderson and Greenwood South Carolina area and are looking for quality home health care or other personal care services like an in-home caregiver? Contact the local Always Best Care office at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com today to find out how you can get a free consultation.