Earlier this week, I was talking with a Careblazer who recently joined the Care Collective. I asked her why she decided to join, and she said she wanted to make sure she was doing everything she could to help her mom have a good quality of life.
She went on to explain that her mom rarely smiled or showed emotion. For example, she would bring her mom her favorite snack, and her mom would take it and eat it, but show no signs of pleasure or joy.
That’s when I shared that many people with dementia experience something called lack of affect. It means they no longer have the ability to change their facial expressions to match how they are feeling. This can look like blank stares or a lack of visible emotion.
If we aren’t aware of this neurological change, we can run ourselves into the ground trying to “crack the code” on what makes our loved one happy. The truth is, your gestures might be wonderful. It’s just that your loved one may no longer be able to show their appreciation in the way you’re used to seeing. It’s not because they don’t enjoy it. It’s because their brain no longer allows them to express it.
Do you think your loved one might be showing signs of lack of affect?
In this week’s video, I share 3 Things I Wish More Doctors Understood About Dementia. Something tells me you might have a few more to add. I’d love to hear them!
If your loved one tends to wander (or you just want to know when they’ve left the house), these door alarms might be worth considering. One caregiver shared, “I wish we’d had these before the day my dad wandered away.” If you’re looking for a little more peace of mind, you can read the reviews here.
Sending love,
Board-certified Geropsychologist
Founder, Dementia Careblazers
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