Things You Should Know About Anosognosia & Alzheimer’s And Senior Care In AZ

People don’t always feel comfortable accepting that they have a condition especially when it is a serious mental illness likebipolar disorder or schizophrenia thatthey’ve been newly diagnosed with. This isn’t uncommon and most people eventually accept the diagnosis. Sometimes, the rejection is long-lasting, and it’s not simply denial that’s causing a person to reject the facts, it’s a condition called anosognosia that loosely means lack of awareness or insight where the person is unaware of their condition and unable to accept it.

Risk:

Anosognosia is common in people with serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. According to some psychiatrists, anywhere from 57%-98% of people with schizophrenia have it. It isn’t uncommon for someone with Alzheimer’s to get it as many people with neurological disorders have this condition. Anosognosia affects up to 81 percent of people living with dementia.Anosognosia actually results from real changes in the brain which is often dismissed as denial- it isn’t stubbornness or even a defense mechanism.

Before talking about the symptoms, here’s some information on assisted living facilities. If you’ve senior loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, they would require round-the-clock care and support which is only possible at a reputed assisted facility, such as Anthem Senior Living in Phoenix and its recently opened wing Senior Sanctuary of Anthem. Expect for your beloved to receive high-end senior care living in Anthem.

Anosognosia Symptoms:

Some of the symptoms of Anosognosia are same as dementia symptoms and to make diagnosis more difficult anosognosia may be selective in nature which can make it difficult to diagnose and challenging to differentiate from denial. Some common symptoms include difficulty managing finances, decreased inhibition in speech and lack of self-awareness, inability to keep up with routine tasks or personal grooming and hygiene; anger/aggression when confronted with a lack of self-care, poor decision-making and forgetfulness; believing things to be true even though they aren’t.

Tips to take care of someone who aren’t aware they have dementia:

It can be challenging to take care of someone who has dementia and anosognosia. Caregivers who are trying to help someone who cannot acknowledge they need help can lead to refused medical treatment, evaluation, and delayed diagnosis. People can put themselves or others in danger if treatment and proper care isn’t received.

Offer Structure– For people living with anosognosia, a daily care plan for dementia caregivers can be extremely beneficial. Offer a gentle structure including personal care time, downtime and household tasks to your loved one.

Do Not Try Hard To Convince– Don’t try hard to convince someone with anosognosia that they are ill which can be incredibly frustrating for all parties. Alleviate symptoms and encourage your loved one. Don’t go on repeatedly making them understand something that they aren’t capable of understanding.

Involve Your Beloved In Decision-making– As dementia advances this can become difficult. Involve your loved one in decisions when you can which means you are acknowledging their independence which is very important and can help caregivers and those being cared for work together in an effective way.

Memory Care– It isn’t always possible to care for your beloved in the face of the busy lives that we have these days, or the responsibility of caregiving becomes too great for one person. This is quite normal and that’s why assisted living/memory care communities are present to partner with dementia caregivers, downsizing unnecessary tasks and providing individuals with dementia expert care.