Carol Bradley Bursack, with AgingCare.com, shares this

A  frequent problem expressed among adult children is that their parents aren’t truthful with their doctors. While the parent may complain at home of pain, exhibit memory problems and accuse family of theft when he or she can’t locate a commonly used item, the moment the parent faces their doctor a change occurs. Like an actor on stage, the person sitting in front of the doctor becomes animated and charming. My mom was a supreme example. She fell in her apartment—often more than once a week. She had memory problems. She was taken advantage of by telemarketers. She had digestive issues. However, when I took her to her doctor, what I called her “hostess personality” took over. While she may have complained of pain in the car during our drive, the minute she had a chance to tell her doctor how terrible she felt she was perkiness personified. Continue reading →