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.
Everyone communicates in three ways: through the words we say, our body language and our tone of voice. In this Tip Sheet you'll see how dementia may impact your loved one's communication. Plus, you'll find 10 tips to help you engage in positive interactions, such as:
- Address your loved one by name, not just endearing terms.
- Remain calm and talk slowly during your conversations.
- Don’t ask your loved one to make complicated choices, simplify things for them.
- And more!
This Tip Sheet is one of many tools in our Caregiver Toolkit, to gain access to the full kit, visit here.