Any suggestions for helping my husband accept that he may have Alzheimer's?
Although it might appear that your husband is in 'denial' about his diagnosis, it is also possible that his dementia has progressed and has compromised both his memory of getting the diagnosis and his insight into reality. At an earlier point of time, he understood and accepted the diagnosis and demonstrated insight and good judgment as he told others. Now, that period appears to be gone and he is existing in a different space of time with more compromised cognitive faculties especially in reality perception.
The question about whether to foster reality orientation for a person with dementia is an on-going debate. Some believe that the individual needs to be in 'the present' and be aware of the three spheres of reality: time, place and people. In contrast, others recommend allowing the individual to 'live in his own reality' unless it is harmful to him. Reminding him that he has AZ or that "this is his home" or "today is Wednesday" can often precipitate anger and conflict and will be forgotten soon thereafter.
I think that if your husband's present regimen of diet, exercise and work give him comfort and a sense of dignity, then he should be encouraged to maintain this. If he believes this will help avert the disease, and this misperception is not harmful, then it should be enabled.
It is recommended he visit his neurologist periodically to assess his present stage and care needs. He may now be entering a phase where he is less able to manage independently at home and at the job; this needs to be further evaluated.
Recommended for you
- How do I go about diagnosing Alzheimer's for my mom?
- How do I get Mom to see a doctor when she's in denial that she might have symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
- How do we deal with my father-in-law's denial that his wife is dying?
- What can I do about my family's Alzheimer's disease denial?
- See all 57 questions about Diagnosing Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
