Embarrassment

The person with dementia may feel embarrassed about having lost skills and being unable to fulfil their previous roles in the family. It can be hard to explain to people around you when your loved one forgets basic social etiquette and manners. Education about dementia helps to cope with these feelings.

It is not uncommon for some people to distance themselves from the person with dementia, perhaps due to a fear of the changes happening to the person they have known for many years. This in turn leads to feeling embarrassed that they cannot handle being around the person.

As a relative or carer, you can be the one who asks your family and friends to find out more information about dementia and the  behavioural changes that accompany it.

• Information fosters understanding of the person's behaviour.
• You may not always be able to avoid feeling embarrassed, but remember, changes in the behaviour of the person with dementia are due to the disease.