Covering up memory loss

[Evza]

I have no experience with dementia at all, so I appreciate any advice.

Do people with dementia cover up their memory loss?

I'm worried about my nan's memory, but she keeps telling us stories that make out my grandad is losing his memory.

I haven't noticed any memory issues with him and I haven't had the chance to talk to him about it yet.

Thanks for any help.

with early memory loss symptoms, people can cover up because they don’t want to believe anything is wrong and they don’t want to have it suggested they need help/need to be in a home.

It is important to speak to the Dr early on though as there are many, easily treatable issues, that can cause memory loss such as pernicious anaemia, thyroid issues, vitamin D deficiency, Ferritin deficiency. A Dr will order blood tests to rule out other causes and refer to the memory clinic. Early diagnosis can help put support in place and help a person stay at home longer.

It is quite a common thing. I've heard absolute howlers from my Mum and DP's Dad.

The problem with trying to get help early on, is that the person with the problem may very well deny there's a problem as may their partner.

Have a chat with your grandad and see what he says. Has anyone else noticed?

It's really common. Generally they are embarrassed. anxious and frightened because they have insight and know there is a problem. The Alzheimer's society are a great resource to get further information

In the very early stages of dementia, my mum regularly told me she was worried about my dad's memory. She both forgot and misremembered things so was sometimes convinced that things had happened which hadn't, as well as forgetting things that had happened. It was very hard because it made her so angry.

Thank you for all the replies.

Yes, my mum has noticed it too.

My nan has got really nasty towards and about my Grandad. It's to the point where she won't speak to him for days. Could this be connected?

She's got really bad arthritis but refuses to get any help for it, so getting her to go to a doctor is going to be hard.

Yes, they try to cover up what is happening to them.
If she refuses help or to see the GP you will have to refer to SS.

Yes, I think it's quite common and getting angry with your DGF and not speaking to him could also be related.

Does your DM have LPOA for your DGM?

My mumused to get really angry with my dad because she thought he was doing stuff/making decisions without discussing it with her. He had but she had completely forgotten the conversation. She was convinced hexeas trying to persuade people she was mad. She wasn't "covering up", she genuinely didn't think things had happened yesterday had so she didn't think she had forgotten them. There's also confabulation where the brain subconsciously fills in the gaps in memory without the person realising. You get some really odd stories from that.

PritiPatelsMaker makes a good point. With POA, make sure you get both financial and health and care. They are both important but they are separate.