Everything You Need to Know About Confabulation – Elderly Companionship in the UK

Have you ever heard before about confabulation? It is no doubt a serious issue. 

The trouble is most people fail to rule out the situation of their elderly home mates who are suffering from it. 

You first need to know all the details regarding this condition. The more you are aware of it, the more you can handle the situation better. 

Elderly companionship in the UK has trained carers who know how exactly they can cater to the needs of seniors suffering from confabulation. You can consult with them if needed. But, first, you need to take out some time and learn about this a bit so you can cater to the sufferer wisely.

What is Confabulation?

It is a condition where a person conveys false information to others. The reason behind this attitude is the memory distortion of a person. It is usually observed in elderly individuals. Due to the age and sometimes due to some brain or memory-related disorders, results in confabulation.

The normal individuals around the sufferer could not figure out the situation due to a lack of awareness. It is indeed a serious issue and we need to address it and create awareness among the general public. 

Also, we need to discuss more and more ideas regarding how to deal with such individuals and what practices should we adapt accordingly.

What are the causes of Confabulation?

There could be different reasons associated with confabulation. It is most commonly observed in people with dementia. Furthermore, the sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease may also present the symptoms. Some other conditions that may also cause confabulation include head injury, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, schizophrenia, etc.

Physiologically, the reason that is given for confabulation is the incomplete coded signals to the brain. Another reason that is also reported is that the overlearned information may be dominant. 

Further research is still being conducted in this domain. It is said that the condition could be associated with multiple factors and the only thing that we can do is to try minimizing the symptoms by the adequate handling of the patient.

How to deal with Confabulation?

In order to deal with the situation, a lot of patience is the first condition. You need to deal with the person very carefully. There are some practices that you can adopt while dealing with the elderly suffering from confabulation.

 Be gentle

You need to adopt a mature approach. Try to be gentle and kind with the patient. Do not get rude to them. 

Moreover, do not take their comments or attitude personally. Try to be ignorant and avoid being judgmental of them. 

You need to keep in mind that they are not doing anything intentionally. They are also struggling hard with their condition. So you need to stay calm and take special care of them in their tough times.

 Avoid arguments

When they are telling you or discussing something, you should avoid arguing with them. 

Without taking anything personally, remind yourself about the actual facts and deal with them carefully. Try to be patient rather than being arrogant or ignorant. Your attitude will contribute a lot in either minimizing or maximizing the symptoms. So choose your attitude wisely.

Try to calm them

When you are responding to them, try to modify your expression. Use a soft tone and listen to them. Cater to them with a calm attitude and try to console them with your caring gestures. 

Show and express fully your care and concerns for them. Try to make them realize that they are not alone and everyone around them cares for them a lot. Try to reassure them as much as you can. Not only with words,  but with caring gestures, like hugs, touch, etc.

 Ensure the peaceful environment

Try to maintain a calm and peaceful environment around them. Avoid all such practices that might be disturbing and irritating for them. Reduce noise around them whether it is due to television, the little babies around them, or whatever else. The more peaceful environment they will be surrounded with. The better they will maintain their focus.

Final Words

In old age, there are different things due which an individual suffers. 

Some are associated with different diseases; others are accompanied by the attitude of the people around them. 

If you have elderly family members with you, you should take due care of them. Most of the time, it is our attitude that can make the situation worse rather than fixing it. 

So, try to attain a mature and caring approach and take due care of all such individuals around you. 

It is well said that an act of kindness will last forever. Your attention and care will help your loved ones to recover quickly and efficiently and will bring them back to life again.