This post may be of interest to those dealing with dementia and the person with dementia refuses to see a doctor or is unable to see his/her own dementia.
The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com) isn’t a newspaper I often read but I do like the articles written by Dr. Marc Agronin, a geriatric psychiatrist. This article in last week’s paper is about what “to do when loved ones won’t admit their memory loss.”
Here’s a short excerpt:
“This denial of illness itself is a telltale sign of an evolving dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, in which a person’s insight is often an early casualty. Anosognosia is the formal medical term for this condition, and it is also seen after certain types of strokes. It can also be fueled by delusional thinking, depression, mania, or the effects of medications or other substances. Such denial can lead to physical, mental, financial or legal harm when these individuals with diminished or distorted capabilities refuse necessary evaluations and treatments, or insist on managing their own finances or engaging in risky behaviors such as driving.”
Here’s a link to the full article:
blogs.wsj.com/experts/2017/06/29/what-to-do-when-loved-ones-wont-admit-their-memory-loss/
The Experts | Health
What to Do When Loved Ones Won’t Admit Their Memory Loss
By Marc Agronin
Jun 29, 2017 10:30 am ET
The Wall Street Journal
Robin