People with dementia frequently have trouble communicating. They often forget words, repeat themselves, lose their train of thought, get confused or use child-like language. Many of them also struggle with speaking in general.
In addition, other elements of a dementia diagnosis can also impair a person’s capacity to communicate. For instance, many experience trouble with other senses, especially hearing and sight. However, maintaining communication with a loved one suffering from dementia is essential for their quality of life.
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Why is communication impaired by dementia?
A frequent reason why dementia patients struggle with communication is that they can’t make sense of their own thoughts. Even if they can, many face difficulties articulating themselves.
At its core, dementia affects people’s ability to apply logic. Consequently, even simple concepts can suddenly seem confusing.
For others, this can be incredibly frustrating. But it’s crucial to keep this frustration in check. Any negative or stressful reaction will make matters worse, decrease the patient’s self-confidence, and further impair their communication skills.
From a medical point of view, dementia targets the left temporal lobe. Here, vocabulary is stored that people initially learned as adolescents. Other linguistic elements are also linked to this region. One characteristic response from patients is to stay quiet for longer periods of time.
How can you help a loved one suffering from dementia communicate?
There are a few strategies you can pursue in conversation to help a dementia patient communicate. Make it a point to initiate conversations and keep your sentences concise. Speak slowly, and then give your interlocutor ample time to reply.
Once they’ve spoken, you should acknowledge what they’ve said and subtly encourage them further. If needed, rephrase your sentence and make sure to keep your voice free of frustration, friendly, and calm.
What are some non-verbal ways of helping?
During a conversation, you should maintain gentle, reassuring eye contact. Try to radiate calm through your body language and facial expressions.
Situate yourself at eye level with the person you’re talking to. Avoid looming over them or looking down at them. While talking to them, focus only on them. Avoid bustling about or trying to multitask.
Which habits should you cultivate?
To maintain communication with a loved one with dementia in the long term, there are a few habits you can integrate in your own communication patterns.
Talk about topics that you know your loved one enjoys and knows well. If necessary, use hand gestures to mime certain parts of your conversation to accompany your words.
When something they say or how they say it affects you negatively, take a moment to process it for yourself. Finally, you should periodically check in on their diagnosis to make sure your communication style is still appropriate.
Conclusion
Communication with a loved one with dementia can seem daunting. However, with the right strategies and sufficient practice, it is manageable.
Lifted, a UK-based specialist dementia care company, explains: “Remember to note other contributing details to what they are trying to say, such as their movement, and persevere until you understand the meaning of what they are saying. Start this observation from a place of knowing your loved one as well as you do. Lifted Carers are trained and experienced in reading these signals, and it is essential to have the same familiarity as a family member.”