It's estimated that fifty-five million people around the world have dementia. This memory condition can severely affect the way people communicate. In the early stages, this can be mild.
The person might have trouble finding the right word or get easily frustrated. However, as the disease progresses communication can become a challenge even for the most patient individuals.
It's important to remember that there is a right and a wrong way to engage with dementia patients.
So what are some effective communication strategies you can use? And should you consider professional care if you're having trouble communicating? In this guide, we'll answer these questions so you can learn some communication techniques for dementia.
When engaging dementia patients you want to be as clear and straightforward as possible. That means using simple sentences and words spoken in a slow, calm manner. If the person doesn't understand you, avoid raising your voice with them.
Instead, lower your pitch and continue with a reassuring tone. If they still don't understand, wait a few minutes before trying again. Instead of asking open-ended questions, try to give them yes or no options for more effective communication methods.
This makes things much simpler. And remember to be respectful. Avoid talking in a baby tone when you communicate with individuals. This is a person who deserves dignity.
Dementia is a degenerative disease which means it will steadily get worse over time, not better. Generally speaking, you can break dementia up into early, middle, and late stages.
You need to adjust your communication style depending on what stage your loved one is at. For example, during the early stages, they can still have lots of meaningful conversations. During this stage, you should be patient with the individual while not making any assumptions about their communication.
The next section is the middle stage which is the longest. This stage is where you'll need to use most of the advice in this article. Communication is possible, but it requires simplicity, few distractions, and patience.
Late-stage dementia is when communication reaches its most difficult. At this stage, most patients are only capable of non-verbal communication.
As such, you'll need to be able to interpret what certain facial expressions and sounds mean.
Dementia patients enjoy stimulation in the form of games, exercise, and puzzles just like everyone else. So don't be afraid to engage them with a variety of different activities.
Art and music have been shown to be particularly popular for individuals with memory conditions. Mind puzzles and similar tasks can actually help a person retain their cognitive function for longer periods of time.
So do some research on some activities your loved one might enjoy. Or, consider signing them up for an personal care community that offers memory care.
These communities often come with activity calendars full of fun, stimulating things dementia patients can partake in throughout the day.
Thinking about the past can be a fun, soothing memory for anyone. However, it's especially important for people with dementia. That's because dementia often first targets a person's short-term memory.
So, while they might forget if they've eaten breakfast, they'll still be able to remember with startling clarity what they were doing decades ago.
Instead of asking the person how their day is going, ask them questions about their past. These memories are more likely to be retained and they'll have fun reminiscing over them.
Dementia patients can often get upset and frustrated. This might have to do with the simple fact that they can't communicate and function on the level they once knew.
However, it's also because dementia can cause hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. When a dementia patient is in the middle of an episode featuring one of these things, it can be difficult to calm them down.
Instead of trying to change the subject with them, you should redirect them instead. Suggest that you go for a walk, or grab a bite to eat.
However, make sure that you acknowledge the individual's feelings before you go off to another activity.
People with dementia rely a lot on body language and tone. So try to be positive with all of your interactions with them to start things off on the right foot. It's quite common for people with dementia to get people and dates wrong.
In some cases, they might invent things that never even happened. Instead of trying to correct them, reassure them with words and touch.
This will go a long way toward improving interactions with dementia. Trying to convince them that they're wrong will only make them more confused.
Taking on the role of caregiver when you know the dementia patient can be incredibly challenging. Not only do you have to figure out communication strategies, but it can be incredibly hurtful when the person forgets you or lashes out at you.
While they don't mean to do this to you, it can still result in burnout for caregivers. If you need help, consider senior living options that provide memory care.
In addition to providing housing and care for your loved one, these communities also provide stimulating activities and delicious meals.
What's more, they have a friendly staff who are trained in communicating and caring for people with dementia. Just make sure you do your research beforehand so you know that the community is capable of supporting dementia patients.
We hope this guide helped you learn more about how to engage dementia patients with effective communication. Here at Preston Greens Senior Living, we know the importance of dementia communication strategies.
That's why all our staff in the memory care section are specially trained to provide personalized care with stimulating activities and conversation.
So if you've been feeling burnt out of taking care of your loved one and need some professional help, don't hesitate to reach out to us today.