Communicating effectively is paramount to success and happiness in most societal situations, be it communication between partners, co-workers, or friends.
But when a family member has been diagnosed with Dementia, you might have to re-establish the communication techniques that you’ve spent your whole life practicing. That means making adjustments to the way you talk and listen to your loved one, but also how you interpret and understand the messages they’re trying to convey.
Some families secure the help of specialist in-home Dementia care services to support the person living with Dementia. But it’s also important to adopt effective communication tools of your own so that the family member living with Dementia can maintain a joyful way of living and retain a sense of self and independence.
First, here are just a few ways that communication may falter in a person living with Dementia.
Communication Changes in a Person Living with Dementia
- Difficulty remembering names, dates, and everyday facts.
- Trouble recalling memories.
- Fading ability to present rational ideas or to reason clearly.
- Challenges with describing items when they’re unable to recall the name.
- Using inappropriate language and name-calling.
- Becoming reclusive and verbally communicating less frequently.
- Returning to a first language.
- Repetition.
When you are restructuring conversation styles to effectively communicate with people living with Dementia, it’s important to maintain a calm, positive and encouraging atmosphere.
Tips for Better Interactions
Here are some communication tools — involving body language, tone of voice, and through conversation — for your consideration.
Body Language
- Keep sudden and unusual movements to a minimum.
- Try to maintain a calm facial expression. Tensing your face may cause upset, even if the information you’re relaying is not distressing.
- Hold eye contact when the person is talking to you and when you’re responding. This will help retain the person’s attention while giving them a sense of normalcy.
- Make physical contact. A lack of human touch can lead to feelings of loneliness, decreased sensory awareness and anxiety. If the person is distressed — and they’re comfortable with touch — placing a hand on their knee, or their arm can be a sign of positive reassurance. A hand massage or gentle shoulder rub is also a nice way to calm the person down. Studies show that just five minutes of a hand massage can elicit a relaxed response.
- Use visual cues on days with low verbal communication. For example, hold up the kettle when you’re offering a cup of tea.
Vocal Tone
- Try not to raise your voice, even if something has caused you distress.
- Keep a positive, gentle, kind, or upbeat note to your voice.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
Conversational Tools
- Start to use shorter sentences. This is especially important as the disease progresses when you should consider offering questions with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer when you can.
- Provide options. If the person living with Dementia is reluctant to do a routine activity — such as brushing their hair — rephrase the question. Instead of saying, ‘Shall we brush your hair?’ offer an option: ‘Shall we brush your hair before or after your favourite TV show?’
- Initiate conversations. As mentioned, one of the traits of Dementia is a lessened ability to or interest in starting a conversation. It’s important to still involve persons with Dementia in discussions and to initiate when you can.
- Don’t talk about the person as though they’re not there.
- Maintain face-to-face interactions. If you communicate with the person from afar, when possible, use video calling services instead of a phone call. Seeing facial expressions may be helpful to a person living with Dementia.
- Acknowledge when the person living with Dementia is upset, frustrated or confused. Reassure them and support them through these feelings.
Another helpful tip to remember is to shelter the person living with Dementia from unusual (or disturbing) activities. That means minimizing distractions during interactions if you can — turn down the radio or the TV and shut the door or window to outside noise.
Also, try to minimize the discomfort that might arise from breaks in routine. If, for example, a faucet is broken and a plumber needs to come to the home, this may cause distress to the person living with Dementia. If possible, try and shelter them from what they may perceive as a stranger invading their space.
How Can Support Groups Help in Communicating with Seniors with Dementia?
Support groups are invaluable for connecting with others who understand the challenges of communicating with seniors with dementia. Tips for finding support group include reaching out to local senior centers, hospitals, or the Alzheimer’s Association for resources. These groups offer emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community.
To Conclude
Supporting someone as a Caregiver is a process. There’s no one-size fits all approach. Every day may be different. Take your time, be patient with yourself and find what communication tools work best for you and your loved one.
Lastly, being a Caregiver is an amazing, selfless task. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you need it.
