What are six communication techniques you should use when communicating with a person with dementia?

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Communication is vital to our well-being. People living with dementia slowly lose their language skills and their ability to express themselves freely. This has a profound impact on their quality of life.

There are many ways we can support people living with dementia to communicate more effectively. It is important to remember that how you say something is often more important than what you say. Patience and empathy are key.

Here are some tips to help communicate with people living with dementia.

1. Realise Your Challenge

Your client or loved one will get worse with time. Communication will become more difficult. On the other hand, remember there will be good days and bad days. Be prepared.

2. Be Patient

Communicating effectively is one of the greatest challenges seniors living with dementia face. Tolerate compassionately any delays, adversity or provocation.

3. Offer Reassurance

Listen attentively and empathize with their concerns even if they are delusional, confused, hesitating, or angry. Offer reassurance and support.

4. Minimize Background Noise

Noise can disturb and confuse people living with dementia. Find a quiet place to talk, away from the tv, radio, or people passing by.

5. Avoid Arguing

When talking, place yourself in front of your client and speak in a clear and warm tone. Use simple sentences and give clients ample time to respond. Do not contradict what they are saying and don't speak to them as you would to a young child.

6. Use Nonverbal Cues

Gestures, touch and facial expressions can assist communication. Observe if client's non-verbal cues indicate other messages, in spite of the words they are saying. Perhaps there are other feelings behind the words they are saying.

Related: Communication Cue Cards for Dementia Care

7. Be Precise

Avoid pronouns such as 'they' 'he' or 'she'. Refer to people by their preferred names.

8. Keep it simple

Focus on one subject at time; people living with dementia cannot handle two or three threads of conversation. If asking questions make sure they can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'.

9. Be Sensitive

When talking about your client in their presence, assume they can understand everything you say. Don't talk about them as if they were not there.

10. Take a Break

If you feel frustrated, take a break. You are not perfect! A person living with dementia is very capable of reading your body language. If you do not mean what you say they will know. Taking a break will benefit both parties.

Good Luck!

We'd love to hear your feedback!
What strategies have you found to work well to enhance communication with people living with dementia?

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6 ways to Successfully Communicate Non-Verbally with Dementia Residents

Posted on July 17, 2014

Communication is an essential part in enhancing the quality of life, especially for dementia residents. Dementia creates challenges for how people understand what is being communicated to them, along with being able to express themselves to others. This language deterioration is known as aphasia.  Difficulties that arise from not being able to communicate can lead to depression, anxiety, feeling of neglect, loss of personal stimulation and other basic needs of life. In many instances, language skills will vary “day  to day”, and are different for each individual. Trying to accommodate all spectrums of dementia is challenging but by encouraging proper ways of communication, care-takers will be able to provided more valuable care.

We all need to communicate with other people, whether it is non-verbal or verbal. Communication gives us a sense of identity and helps us maintain our quality of life.

Non-verbal communication can be the most effective style of communication to connect with a person who has dementia. This can include facial expressions, touch, and gestures. It is important for family members and caregivers to pay attention to these behaviors, because it will make for a more purposeful relationship.

Here are six tips to effectively communicate with individuals non-verbally, and to help work through the challenges that caregivers and family members often face:

1. Personal Appearance

    Appropriate clothes, hair and body scent can make a person with dementia more relaxed and comfortable with you, because that may remind them of someone they knew.

2. Approach Individuals from the front

   People will become more familiar with you when they feel like they are being respected. By approaching them from the front, you will give them a chance to process who you are and what you are asking.

3. Body Language/ Eye Contact

     A person with dementia will be able to detect your body language, sudden movements which can cause distress on the person and can make it hard to communicate. Demonstrating what is being asked will give the person a visual perception.Respect the person’s personal space but make sure to drop down to eye level, this will allow the individual to feel more comfortable and in control of the situation.

4. Facial Expressions

  Tense facial expressions can also cause distress. Soft facial expressions and smiling will give the person enjoyment.  So remember, something as simple as starting a conversation with a smile can go along way!

5. Touch

     Physical contact will give the person a sense of care and affection. Simply by holding someones hand, rubbing their shoulder or giving them a hug will provide reassurance and comfort.

6. Dance/Music

   Music and dance can spark memories of happy times in a person’s life.Make sure to know what type of music a person enjoyed growing up and allow them to create moments of joy.

Tips: communicating with someone with dementia non-verbally and verbally: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_inf

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