Ash Said It® Daily

The most misunderstood symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia are behavioral changes such as agitation, aggression, and social withdrawal. Author Lisa Skinner, in her book Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s: Its Secret Faces, identifies these as the "secret faces" of the disease—non-verbal communication used when a patient can no longer express physical pain or fear through words. Families often mistake these for personality flaws rather than neurological symptoms. While standard medical advice often focuses on "reality orientation"—constantly correcting a patient’s confusion—Skinner advocates for an unconventional path that prioritizes emotional peace of mind over factual accuracy. This approach meets the patient in their own reality to reduce dementia-related distress, shifting the focus from clinical management to emotional validation. The "Truth vs. Lie" dynamic is a cornerstone of this compassionate care model. Skinner argues that "therapeutic fibbing" is often the kinder choice. Forcing a patient to face a pai