Connect
← Return to Husband (43) showing signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Anyone?
Discussion
Husband (43) showing signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Anyone?
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jul 9 11:00am | Replies (36)Comment receiving replies
Husband 72 has been given an MCI diagnosis but is in complete denial. Insists his condition is just normal aging and refuses to make any changes to our lifestyle. How do I talk to him about some changes, like me getting involved in the finances, his extreme sensitivity to communications? I desperately want to be supportive but he tells me I am constantly putting him down and take away his confidence.
Replies to "Husband 72 has been given an MCI diagnosis but is in complete denial. Insists his condition..."
My husband with MCI doesn't have as much empathy as he used to (which I thankfully learned on this site is because they are so focused on their own self and coping). That being said, would your husband be more on board if he understood how his diagnosis is affecting you and possibly others? Depends on how much empathy he has for you.
My husband is not in denial, but just doesn't realize these changes are happening. He says he is concerned because I am concerned.
Do you attend an in-person support group? Maybe your husband could go with you (mine does), so he can learn about issues that affect both of you.
Getting my husband to stop driving may be a struggle; we aren't there yet but getting closer.
Good luck to you, and hugs.
Hi @yinyin, I want to add my welcome and to check in. I think you might find this blog article helpful written by Mayo MCI expert Dr. Chandler:
- Is it Denial or Something Else? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/newsfeed-post/is-it-denial-or-something-else/
Excerpt
"this "refusal" to admit to memory loss or inability to see it isn't defensiveness at all. A person with MCI or dementia often has another change in ability - the ability to see themselves clearly."
Sometimes it can help to have someone else be involved like a social worker perhaps? Would it help if you asked him to explain certain aspects of the family finances to you - one step at a time? How are you doing?
Connect
I have been where u r now. My husband diagnosed mci and lewy body. He refused to believe also. He has messed up alit of bills. I have had to step in after never being allowed to. I got bills put on auto pymt. But now he is buying gummies to cure his dementia!! We got steve to sign durable poa to my son. He is mow in midst of changing all his credit card numbers. My husband will be allowed one with a limit on it. It is so stressful to go thru all of this. We worked all last summer to get steve to sign poas we had a friend who was a lawyer come to the house. My husband kept saying I was stealing all of his money. I kept telling him to pick whoever he wanted.
Just get it done. I go on his computer everyday and check his email. Also his messenger as he is buying stuff on market place face book and cancel and delete.
If u can get his passwords u can go on and learn what bills are.
I wish u good luck.
Everyday is a new day. Some good and some not!