PavillionatGreatHills_DementiaCommunicationTips
Caring for people with dementia is challenging for families and friends. In addition to the emotional experience of watching a loved one lose their independence; dementia often causes communication problems that make caring for them more difficult.
As a person’s dementia progresses, their ability to communicate will change and so will their ability to interpret the world around them. However, people who have dementia can communicate with you. It just might be unconventional. By letting go of your own expectations of what a “successful” conversation is like, you’ll be able to effectively connect.
How dementia may impact communication
People with dementia may have difficulty in finding words, or they might use words out of context. They may take a longer to comprehend and respond to what you are saying. Their sentences may be shorter, with limited words. Or they might lose their train of thought mid-sentence. In some cases, people with dementia stop verbally communicating altogether.
We communicate in three ways:
- The words we say
- Our body language
- Our tone of voice
In your interactions with your loved one, be self-aware. Try to match your verbal and nonverbal communication by maintaining a calm, pleasant expression and using words of comfort and reassurance.
10 Tips for Positive Interactions
- Address your loved one by name, not just endearing terms.
- Remain calm and talk slowly during your conversations. Give your full attention, make eye contact and be present.
- Don’t ask your loved one to make complicated choices, simplify things for them. Then listen to their words and non-verbal behavior to try and understand what they are attempting to tell you.
- As you help your loved one with daily tasks and activities, guide them by describing what is or is going to be happening.
- Use the Ten-Second Rule. Wait 10 seconds for the person to respond.
- Repeat yourself the exact same way at least once before rephrasing your questions.
- Even if you’re not sure what they’re saying, show that you’ve heard them and encourage them to say more. Use phrases like “Tell me about that” or “Tell me more.”
- Use words that provide encouragement and reassurance. Avoid sentences like “You know that,” “You just did that,” or “I already told you that.”
- Try not to finish the person's sentences. Instead, look for clues in their body language, expression and tone to suggest words. Check with them to see whether you've understood them correctly.
- Let your loved one express emotion and be okay with it, as long as safety is not compromised. People living with dementia are people. They may feel unhappy that they can't communicate in the way they would like.
This article is brought to you by the Pavilion at Great Hills.