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Anosognosia: Why They Don't Believe Anything's Wrong (with Karen Tyrell)
What happens when correcting someone you love no longer brings clarity, and may actually increase distress?
In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Karen Tyrell, founder and CEO of Personalized Dementia Solutions, to explore one of the most common and misunderstood challenges in dementia care: the instinct to correct.
With more than 30 years of experience supporting families and frontline care teams, Karen explains why arguing often backfires, what anosognosia really means, and why some individuals genuinely do not believe anything is wrong. She unpacks how dementia changes insight, reasoning, and perception, and why logic alone is rarely enough.
Karen introduces the concept of therapeutic reasoning and walks through practical steps caregivers can use to reduce escalation while preserving dignity. She shares how small shifts in language can prevent repeated emotional harm, how to navigate difficult moments like repeated questions about a deceased spouse, and why medications should not be the first response to agitation.
The conversation moves beyond tactics. Karen reflects on stigma over the decades, how dementia care has evolved, and why families should build support early rather than waiting for crisis. She also speaks about her work developing dementia designation programs and creating accessible education that empowers both professionals and unpaid caregivers.
In this episode:
• Why correcting someone living with dementia often increases distress
• What anosognosia is and how it changes conversations
• The difference between honesty and therapeutic reasoning
• How to respond when someone repeatedly asks about a deceased loved one
• Why agitation is communication, not defiance
• When medications should and should not be considered
• How to build support before burnout sets in
• What preserving dignity looks like in real time
Whether you are caring for a parent, supporting a spouse, working in long-term care, or trying to understand a recent diagnosis, this episode offers grounded guidance for navigating one of dementia care’s most difficult realities.
You cannot win an argument with dementia. But you can change how you respond.
Learn more at:
https://www.bluebellvillage.ca
https://dementiasolutions.ca
———
Join The Village and help shape conversations like this by submitting questions to our guests: https://www.patreon.com/cw/blueBellVillage
———
Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.
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By blueBell VillageWhat happens when correcting someone you love no longer brings clarity, and may actually increase distress?
In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Karen Tyrell, founder and CEO of Personalized Dementia Solutions, to explore one of the most common and misunderstood challenges in dementia care: the instinct to correct.
With more than 30 years of experience supporting families and frontline care teams, Karen explains why arguing often backfires, what anosognosia really means, and why some individuals genuinely do not believe anything is wrong. She unpacks how dementia changes insight, reasoning, and perception, and why logic alone is rarely enough.
Karen introduces the concept of therapeutic reasoning and walks through practical steps caregivers can use to reduce escalation while preserving dignity. She shares how small shifts in language can prevent repeated emotional harm, how to navigate difficult moments like repeated questions about a deceased spouse, and why medications should not be the first response to agitation.
The conversation moves beyond tactics. Karen reflects on stigma over the decades, how dementia care has evolved, and why families should build support early rather than waiting for crisis. She also speaks about her work developing dementia designation programs and creating accessible education that empowers both professionals and unpaid caregivers.
In this episode:
• Why correcting someone living with dementia often increases distress
• What anosognosia is and how it changes conversations
• The difference between honesty and therapeutic reasoning
• How to respond when someone repeatedly asks about a deceased loved one
• Why agitation is communication, not defiance
• When medications should and should not be considered
• How to build support before burnout sets in
• What preserving dignity looks like in real time
Whether you are caring for a parent, supporting a spouse, working in long-term care, or trying to understand a recent diagnosis, this episode offers grounded guidance for navigating one of dementia care’s most difficult realities.
You cannot win an argument with dementia. But you can change how you respond.
Learn more at:
https://www.bluebellvillage.ca
https://dementiasolutions.ca
———
Join The Village and help shape conversations like this by submitting questions to our guests: https://www.patreon.com/cw/blueBellVillage
———
Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.