Confabulation may not be a term you are familiar with, but one whose symptoms you will recognize. If your parent is confabulating, it can be very challenging to deal with and even harder to know how to respond.
You may wonder — is my parent lying to me? How do I know if the information they are giving me is reliable? In many situations, you may know for a fact that something your parent is telling you isn’t true, that the recollection of events didn’t happen. However, in other cases, you may be relying on your parent to say to you whether they saw a healthcare provider or complied with medical directives.
Most confabulation occurs as a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, but other causes exist. We will guide you through this emotionally draining condition and offer some coping and communication techniques.
WHAT CAUSES CONFABULATION?
There are two main situations under which confabulation occurs. The first type is in response to a question that the person feels pressured to answer and may make up something incorrect rather than say that they don’t know. The other situation occurs spontaneously, and these confabulations can be quite bizarre or fantastic. Other times your parent’s stories may be benign, like making up a story about what they did on the weekend even though it never occurred.
The leading causes of confabulation are Alzheimer’s disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, or traumatic head injury. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome results from an alcohol use problem, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Regardless of the cause, most people who have symptoms of confabulation usually have damage in two areas of the brain: the frontal lobes and the corpus callosum. The frontal lobe is crucial for memory.
CONSEQUENCES OF CONFABULATION ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA
If you recognize confabulation in a parent, it is essential to realize that they are not lying and completely believe what they are telling you. Your parent is subconsciously creating stories as a way to conceal their memory loss. They don’t know that they aren’t telling the truth and have no doubt what they are saying is true. Confabulation can affect your relationship with your parent and complicate the caregiving situation due to other dementia behaviors.
CONFABULATION AND CAREGIVING
One of the more disturbing aspects of confabulation is when your parent accuses you or another caregiver of stealing or mistreating them. Dementia is often characterized by paranoia and delusions, which can be heartbreaking and stressful. Your parent is someone you had mutual trust with, and it is almost as if they are a different person now.
CONFABULATION AND SAFETY
If a person acts on the thoughts they have, it can be catastrophic. For example, if your parent believes that someone will pick them up to go home, and they go out into the cold and wander. Or, they think that they can cook or drive safely when they can’t.
CONFABULATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
Even though you may understand and accept that your parent’s confabulation is unavoidable, others may not feel that way. Family and friends may be shocked and confused by confabulation, which only further alienates your parent from others.
TECHNIQUES TO COPING WITH CONFABULATION
There are ways to cope with a parent who confabulates, and by following these suggestions, things may improve.
Anything that creates more stability and calm will help. Use of Validation Therapy Techniques is a way to approach adults who have Alzheimer’s or dementia. The techniques include empathy, comfort, and reassurance. Rather than correcting or getting angry with the person who confabulates, validation therapy provides methods to manage the situation.
If you understand the purpose of confabulation, it will help you learn how to respond in a caring and compassionate way.
HOW HOME CARE ASSISTANCE CAN HELP
Home Care Assistance can help with a parent who confabulates by providing support and facilitating coping techniques. In-home care can offer relief from caregiving duties and give your parent someone new to interact with. Caregivers provide patient-focused activities on reducing stress and keeping people stimulated by using memory books and other dementia-specific diversions.
In-home caregivers use validation and distraction techniques to calm agitation. Caregivers keep your parent safe by monitoring wandering and other dangerous activities.
Also, Home Care Assistance can direct you to online resources to assist in dealing and coping with confabulation. Contact us if you need support or have questions.
Amanda Butas is a Geriatric Case Manager at the Home Care Assistance Mesa Office. Her company provides home care services on an hourly or around-the-clock basis to older adults who need help. Her services include support with basic activities of daily living and those living with certain conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, as well as supporting a successful transition home from the hospital or a rehab facility. To contact Home Care Assistance Mesa, call (480) 699-4899.