As our loved ones age, they can experience a series of changes in their personality. These changes are noticed mainly by family members and close friends. These changes can also be early warning signs of an underlying health condition, such as dementia.
One such change could be that they start telling untruths. Initially, this may become a nuisance for their family members, but it is important to understand these early stages of dementia.
Is lying a sign of dementia? | Psychological symptoms of dementia
A person with dementia may develop a habit of lying, and there can be many reasons for this. Most people with dementia do not lie intentionally, but are symptomatic of the disease. These signs and symptoms can develop at any stage of dementia, but they are most common in the mid-to-late stages of people living with dementia. The instances of lying will only increase as memory problems progress.
At Abney & Baker, our expert healthcare providers have compiled information to help you provide the right care and support to your loved one diagnosed with dementia. We will help you understand this common symptom.
Confabulation
Your loved one might be aware of their memory loss and how it is causing them mental and emotional distress however in most cases, when your loved one lies, it’s an unconscious defence mechanism known as ‘confabulation’.
Confabulation means they replace his or her lost memories with false or made-up memories. This coping mechanism is developed because their brain is trying to come up with rational thoughts to make sense of what is happening. But when they are unable to fill in the gaps in their memory, they make up things or start lying.
Confabulation in Dementia
Confabulation causes dementia patients to fill in the gaps in their memory with false narratives and made-up scenarios. When it comes to dementia and confabulation, it’s important to note that your loved one is not intentionally deceiving you. Rather, it is their coping mechanism. Confabulation is most common in people with Korsakoff syndrome. However, people with head injuries and other medical conditions may also suffer.
Anxiety and paranoia
The short-term memory capacity of your loved one diagnosed with dementia diminishes over time. This can cause them paranoia and anxiety when they’re not able to recall what they are looking for or where they have placed a certain thing a moment ago. Therefore, it can be common for them to blame family members or carers for misplacing things or even stealing them.
They can also start suspecting that the people around them are not sincere with them and cannot be trusted. This leads them to accuse family members of stealing money and belongings, because they cannot recall from their memory that they spent the money or moved by them.
They can also tell lies, such as saying they have to attend a meeting at their former employment or that they are friends with people they have never met before. They do this because they feel embarrassed, threatened, or insecure due to memory loss and poor judgement. Telling these untruths is often a way to preserve their dignity and try to fit into the situation.
Therefore, when you notice your loved one is lying or falsely accusing you of wrongdoing, remember that it’s just another symptom of the disease. If you need help providing your loved one with the right care and support, contact Abney & Baker.
Coping with dementia and lying
Try not to take dementia lying personally
It’s common to come across family caregivers struggling with the constant lying of their dementia-diagnosed beloved. Even when they perform simple household duties, like washing clothes or setting up a pill box, you may be faced with accusations of theft or neglect.
It’s important not to take such accusations personally, and knowing that our loved ones are no longer their old selves can help us control our emotions. You can try to deal with it with a little bit of humour however it’s also important to know that your feelings of hurt are justified, and there is no shame in finding the situation challenging.
Keep in mind that these accusations are often transient, and your loved one is likely to eventually forget the incidents they initially reacted to. It can be hard for you to forget that they have accused you of stealing or harming.
To care for a loved one diagnosed with dementia, tolerance and patience are key. Confabulation, paranoia, delusions, and other behaviours are brought on by the disease. However, it’s also important that you protect yourself. If you are accused of wrongdoing, you can seek help and speak to close friends and family to share your experiences rather than keep it bottled up inside.
Home care services for your loved one with dementia
Caring for your loved one diagnosed with dementia can be a fulfilling experience initially, but over time you can get overburdened and emotionally distressed by providing 24/7 care and support. Feelings of guilt might surround you when you are considering reaching out for support. But it’s important to remember that there is no shame in getting professional home care services for your loved one when it starts to affect your well-being.
At Abney and Baker, we provide professional personal care and daily support for your loved one. Our healthcare providers ensure they feel safe and supported. This way, you can focus on other aspects of your personal life, while having the peace of mind that your older parents or relatives are in safe and caring hands.
We offer services on a regular basis, so you can always know that a member of our care team is checking in and supporting your loved one in the comfort of their own home. Our pricing is affordable, and the quality of care is next to none.
Helping your loved one to continue living independently and confidently in their own home.
By providing a range of support at home, we’re helping many clients across Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire retain their independence and stay in control in the comfort of their own homes.
Remember we’re always here if you want to chat about your care options. Just get in touch:
Call 0333 043 4880 – Email enquiries@abneyandbaker.com – Book a call here
