When a loved one with dementia believes their parents are still alive, it is not a deliberate falsehood but rather a manifestation of how dementia affects memory, perception, and emotional coping. This phenomenon arises because dementia often causes individuals to…
When a loved one with dementia insists they need to “go pick up the kids,” this behavior often reflects the complex ways dementia affects memory, perception, and emotional needs rather than a literal belief or intention. This phenomenon is rooted…
When a loved one with dementia repeatedly asks, “How many children do I have?” it is often a manifestation of the cognitive and emotional changes caused by the disease. This repetitive questioning is not intentional but arises from the brain’s…
When a loved one with dementia repeatedly says, “I want to go home,” it is often not a literal desire to return to their current physical residence but a complex expression rooted in their cognitive and emotional state. This phrase…
A loved one with dementia becoming fearful of their caregivers is a distressing and complex issue rooted in the nature of dementia itself, the caregiving environment, and the emotional and physical state of the person affected. This fear often arises…
People with dementia often **repeat the same questions** because their brain’s ability to form and retain new memories is impaired, making each question feel new and urgent to them. This repetition is not intentional but a symptom of the disease…
People with dementia often become more confused and agitated in the evening due to a phenomenon known as **sundowning**, which involves increased confusion, anxiety, restlessness, and sometimes aggression during late afternoon and evening hours. This pattern is linked to both…
When a loved one with dementia repeatedly forgets that they have already eaten, it is primarily due to the cognitive impairments caused by the disease, which affect memory, recognition, and the brain’s ability to process and retain recent events. Dementia,…
People with dementia may believe that TV characters are talking to them because of **hallucinations and delusions** caused by changes in their brain function. These symptoms are common in dementia and arise from the brain’s impaired ability to process reality,…
When a loved one with dementia wanders away from home, it is often a distressing and dangerous behavior rooted in the complex changes dementia causes in the brain and behavior. Understanding why this happens requires exploring the cognitive, emotional, and…