Well, I have a new word for you with regard to Dementia. It is Anosognosia.

This is a process in dementia where your loved one’s brain does not have the ability to understand the problems they are having. The term anosognosia means “lack of awareness.” It literally means your loved one does not have the ability to be aware of their disease and all of the problems their brain is having. It’s a common symptom in dementia.

Because your loved one is not capable of being aware of their problems (no matter how much you try to explain), they see YOU, as someone who is just getting in the way and preventing them from doing the things they want to do. Instead of seeing you as someone trying to help and keep them safe, they see you as someone who treats them like a baby.

Anosognosia is the reason that people who have dementia don’t believe you. This is why no matter what you say, no matter how much evidence you have, and even if you are able to physically prove your point, your loved one does not budge in his/her belief.

What Is Anosognosia in Dementia Caregiving?

Anosognosia (pronounced an-oh-sog-NO-zee-uh) is a condition where a person with dementia is unaware of their memory loss or other cognitive impairments. This is not simply denial or stubbornness—it’s a result of actual changes in the brain that affect self-awareness.

A person with anosognosia may:

• Insist they are fine, even when they clearly need help.
• Reject help with daily tasks like taking medications, cooking, or driving.
• Become confused or upset when someone suggests they have a memory problem.

Why Does It Happen?

Anosognosia occurs because dementia affects the parts of the brain that allow a person to monitor and understand their own thinking and memory. To the person with dementia, their reasoning and behavior often feel completely normal.

What Caregivers Need to Know:

• It’s not willful denial. Your loved one isn’t trying to be difficult—they truly may not see the changes you do.
• Arguing rarely helps. Trying to convince them they’re impaired often leads to frustration for both sides.
• Work around, not against. Use calm redirection, simplified routines, and gentle reassurance rather than confrontation.
• • Seek support. Anosognosia makes caregiving harder—don’t carry the burden alone. Connect with medical professionals and support groups.

Since January of 2025, I have noticed a gradual increase in Peggy’s ability to recognize her need for my assistance in a number of areas. Previously, I could explain something to her that she would seem to acknowledge and work with me on it. An example is her use of the TV Remote. Because she now gets more easily confused, I previously explained to her that it actually saves us time if she allows me to make any changes she wishes when using the TV Remote because, from a practical perspective, she frequently presses buttons that do not give her what she desires. In fact, what happens is that we end up in different menus that have nothing to do with the changes she wants to make. This recognition on her part has worked relatively well for the last three years or so.

But now, she insists that she doesn’t have a problem, and persistently insists on making changes that produce anything but achieve her objective. Consequently, I spend a lot more time getting the TV back to what she was watching or making the change that she wanted. The problem is that there are numerous other areas where this same insistence of her not having a problem are making themselves known. Taking her meds is another area. Now she frequently insists that she doesn’t need to take her meds, or doesn’t need to eat a healthy diet, or doesn’t need assistance in selecting her necessary clothes (and putting them on), or putting things away in their normal location, or maintaining a normal level of personal hygiene.

Even her perception of reality is changing. I can make her a cup of tea and bring it into our TV room, plus bring a bottle of water for myself, and she will now take my bottle of water and insist that she just brought it into the TV room herself, when in fact, she never left her chair. She does the same thing with her meds, insists that she has already taken them, when in fact she hasn’t. Most of these inabilities she now manifests more often are not difficult to accommodate (like get another bottle of water), but the sheer number of them that I encounter during the run of the day has increased substantially. The end result is that Anosognosia makes caregiving harder. Anger, resentment or stern insistence by the caregiver is not the answer. But reminding yourself of why this happens and how to effectively counteract what has taken place takes mental and physical energy throughout the day and it is substantial.

Just saying!

Bruce Cooper is a disciple of Jesus, married to Peggy, with 5 grown up children, 7 grandchildren. He is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and resides in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. a.k.a. “Papa.” To read more of Bruce’s work visit Reasoned Cases For Christ.  

Featured Image by Amir Hanna on Unsplash