Is your relative trying to hide dementia?

People should be on the lookout for signs that their elderly relative is trying to hide dementia.

This is the advice of June Andrews, director of the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling.

"When someone starts to get affected by dementia, they know it themselves, and they sometimes try to hide it," she explained.

This can often mean that essential treatment is delayed, as people aren't sent to a GP to get properly assessed.

This threat is even more pronounced among those that do not have regular contact with family or friends.

It is therefore important to look for the key signs of dementia in relatives.

According to Professor Andrews, the main sign that a person is experiencing dementia is that they are not able to do the things they once did to the same standard as they in the past.

If an older adult has become more solitary or started to neglect their personal hygiene or domestic chores, they may also have developed dementia.

Find out about dementia care and support services at Barchester care homes.