Does anyone have a spouse that is in denial that he has Alzheimer? My husband was diagnosed in August 2015 and he is in denial. It is very very hard on me. And if so perhaps you can let me know how you get them to see this and also how you handle it.
Somehow, you have to get him to sit down and talk openly about it. Tell him you can't help take care of him if he doesn't tell you what his body is feeling with this dam awful disease. That was when my hubby told me that he sometimes can't find the words he wants to say and it takes so long to find them that he forgets what he wanted to say. So I asked him if he wanted me to try and help him during a conversation . We talked about the foggy feeling in his head and how he would want me to help. We talked about his sensitive ears when I vacum.I didn't know ! Problem Solved...... I only vacum when he is not home or outside. All this openly admitting to the problems of this disease will help you two make a comfortable home. Good Luck.π Jillianne.
My husband mostly denies he has Alzheimer and says he has a short term memory problem. I generally just let it go as it upsets him when I try to explain that he does have it. At odd times he admits he does have Alzheimer but I can understand why he doesn't want to accept the diagnosis.
Dear @A myALZteam Member , you are not alone. I believe it is human to deny a diagnosis. Both my husband and I did.I even asked for a second opinion . It took hubby a long time to accept it. It has only been the .last 4 years or so that hubby has fully excepted it. I believe talking about it openly in front of others, sort of forcing him to see that yes he has some difficulties but people except that and will help him. Just sayin.π
@A myALZteam Member. Hi there. I had the same problem which became serious especially as his family (twin brother and mother!) were in denial and blamed me for his condition. Worst was to come when they told him whenever they spoke to him that he was perfectly healthy and I was drugging him and colluding with the Dr's! ! My tears wld have ended the SA drought! Even worse when he had a big relapse (triggered by the shock that his precious Baby we lying to him and trying to kill him!) This relapse resulted in him having to be placed in full time care. We back on track again as his brother is banned from seeing or contacting him. His mother "came around" but until her death end Nov '16 I still believe she believed I was the cause. Sad answer is that until your hubby has deteriorated much further he will always deny he is ill. Remember in their mind we ate wrong and they are right, hence never to argue with them or they say directly correct them. Go about the correction or reminder in a different manner... "I remember when ..." Not easy .... and for us (me) does not come naturally yet...
Thanks so much for your question and all the responses. My husband was diagnosed in 2015 at age 56 and is still in and out of denial. He gets frustrated and I'm learning not to correct him or argue but like others have said this doesn't come naturally. At times he'll say in anger & frustration .... 'why me, why have I got this awful disease?' Our wonderful support team at Alzheimer's WA always remind me to respond to his negatives with acknowledgement first followed quickly with a positive comment ..... usually this works well but sometimes this causes more frustration. Just recently he made a comment about a truck driver who was driving erratically and said 'See I could still be driving trucks from East to West, I'd be safer than that idiot, why did they take me truck drivers license away?' I replied yep.... there are lots of idiots on the road..... but look at us sweetheart, planning our holidays, early retirement at our age, we thought we'd have to work till we were 70.... big smile π Kev angrily replied..... 'I wish I could work till I was 70..... I would much rather that!' I couldn't say much more to that π X x