Dementia changes a lot of things and language is one of the most affected aspects apart from memory. An early sign of dementia is the inability to retrieve words. The other common difficulty faced in the early stages of dementia is processing information or following a storyline.
The damage caused to the brain changes the way the loved one hears, processes, and responds to the conversation. This makes it necessary for caregivers to adopt new techniques to communicate with the person with dementia.
The impact of dementia on the individual’s language abilities brings up symptoms like difficulty retrieving the correct words in a conversation, losing the train and getting lost in a conversation, using gestures rather than words, using the native language again, and using object descriptions rather than their names. As a caregiver of a person with dementia, it is necessary to learn how to adapt to language changes to avoid any confusion and communicate easily.
Tips For Early Dementia
Here are some of the top tips and tricks for communicating with those with early signs of dementia.
1. Be patient and calm
Show a calm, positive attitude to help the older adult communicate easily with you. Avoid using any body language that shows anger, impatience, or frustration. Give them your complete attention and avoid interrupting them while they talk. In any frustrating situation, try stepping away for some time to return with a calm attitude instead of getting angry.
2. Limit distractions
Dementia can make it difficult for people to pay attention to somebody trying to communicate. To ease this, you should limit distractions. Minimize visual stimulus and noise. Ensure you have a quiet place free of any distractions to talk to a loved one with dementia. Using a familiar setting as a strange place can leave them distracted or asking questions.
3. Keep things clear and simple
Talking to somebody with dementia doesn’t just concern how you communicate but also what you say. Words are really important as they find it difficult to interpret the information presented. The simpler the language, the easier it is for them to comprehend and process the information. Keep your sentences simple and clear. Use a language they are quite familiar with to avoid any confusion or agitation.
4. Keep your face, voice, and body positive and relaxed
When you talk to a loved one with dementia, have a happy and relaxed look on your face. A tense facial expression would cause distress and worsen communication. Also, ensure that you keep the tone friendly and positive to encourage the person to share his thoughts and feelings.
5. Ensure continued attention
It is important to make efforts to hold their attention. Make sure they keep the focus fixed on you so that the communication is effective. Try using the person’s name frequently during the conversation to keep their mind focused on you. Use touch gestures or stay in their line of sight during the discussion to keep them engaged. Hand movements and other visual prompts are great ways to hold attention.
6. Use gentle touch
Physical touch is often reassuring and comforting but make sure they are comfortable with your touch. Gentle touch like patting on hands or arms, shaking hands, giving a hug, putting an arm around, rubbing the shoulder or back, and holding hands are great ways to make them feel better and engage them in conversation.
7. Observe their nonverbal reactions
Symptoms of dementia can make it difficult for the loved one to express the feelings verbally. This means you should watch for signs of fear, anger, or frustration while you talk and adjust your actions or words accordingly to calm them as needed.
8. Maintain a positive environment
Conversation in a positive environment is highly beneficial to a person with dementia. Agitation and strain can elevate the symptoms of disorientation and confusion while trying to remember things their brain is not capable of. A positive, calm environment can keep things relaxed. You should not try to force communication which cannot be carried out well. It is also important to say supportive words when he/she starts showing signs of difficulty.
9. Try again later
We all have good and bad days and moods and people with dementia are no exception. One of the most effective dementia communication strategies that people hardly consider is waiting. Though it is less likely for a person to improve the condition unless receiving treatment, they may find it easier to communicate on some days than others.
10. Go back in time
If you are trying to engage in a chat with someone affected by dementia, this communication strategy is quite effective. Memory loss is like a photo album and newer memories fade away faster whereas older ones are stuck in place. You can talk to them about old memories and they will be able to participate in the conversation easily. They are likely to recall old events clearly and talk about them in detail with you. Such conversations can boost self-confidence and assurance.
11. Agree with the loved one
Damage to the brain causes other problems like anxiety, confusion, and delusions. Your loved one may show these signs and it becomes necessary to take care of their emotions. Agree with whatever they have said or are concerned about and assure them you will take care of it. Consider changing the topic only after you have assured them of whatever is concerning them.
12. Take time for the conversation
Normal people talk quickly but it is not true for dementia patients. You must slow down and take time to have a conversation with the person. You should not rush him/her to participate. The person with dementia would need some time to think and respond. Do not try to finish the sentences for the person or interrupt in between. You should give them time to let them finish or change their sentences.
When it comes to dementia, keeping up communication is not just necessary for treatment but also for better quality of life and happy living. As a caregiver of a loved one with dementia, you can use these strategies to indulge in better communication with the person. Do share your experiences in the comments section below.
