How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Accuses You of Stealing

Being accused of stealing by the person you are giving everything to is one of the most quietly devastating things that happens in dementia caregiving. It does not just feel unfair. It strikes at your identity, your dignity, and the relationship you had before all of this. And because it can happen over and over, with no memory that it happened before, many caregivers absorb these accusations alone, without ever really being told why it happens or what they can actually do. There is a neurological reason for this. And it has nothing to do with how your loved one truly feels about you. In this episode I walk you through what is happening in the dementia brain that causes stealing accusations, why the instinct to defend yourself almost always backfires, and four specific things you can try the next time it happens. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - You are not alone: naming the experience 1:40 - The many ways stealing accusations show up 2:45 - Three things happening in the dementia brain 6:30 - Responses that unintentionally make things worse 9:00 - Four strategies that actually help   #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.