How to Communicate with Someone Living with Dementia

When a family member or someone close to you is diagnosed with Dementia, it’s always difficult to know what to do or how to approach the situation. When the dementia progresses rapidly, the person tends to forget things more regularly as well as seeming uninterested and unable to participate in a flowing conversation. Communicating with a loved one who is living with this disease can seem daunting, but that doesn't mean you should give up. Here are some tips for keeping communication going:

Make eye contact

Ensure you use eye contact with the person as this will make the feel at ease, you may also want to lower yourself to the persons level and talk to them at a distance, this is to avoid being intimidating.

Be patient

Be patient and calm throughout, ensuring you allow the person plenty of time to respond. Don’t try and interrupt or complete their sentences as this can break the patter of communication and cause confusion.

Show them a memory box

Use things that may jog their memory such as photo albums, music or items they own to try and help them remember things which can help facilitate conversation and help them remember good memories in their life.

Keep conversations simple

Try to stick to one idea at a time, asking easy one point questions. Try phrasing them in a way that allows for a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, or alternatively, in a way that gives the person choice.

Keep them social

Encourage them to join in conversations with others, sometimes social clubs can be very useful for this type of thing as it encourages them to get out and talk to people more regularly.

Don’t be patronising

Ensure you are patient and have respect for them at all times. Talking about the person as if they are not there or talking to them as you would a young child are definite no no’s.

Keep the space distraction-free

Try to get rid of any background noise or distractions such as a loud TV or radio, as noise in the background might make them more confused and they may lose their train of thought.

Don't be afraid of silences

This can make some people feel awkward but those with dementia usually don’t notice this. Just try and be understanding and perhaps listen to music or watch a film together if the conversation is struggling.

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Chris Salter is Group Support Manager at Forest Healthcare.