Communicating with patients with dementia

Dementia is a chronic illness that progressively affects a person’s memory and their ability to recall & understand basicdetails like names, dates & locations etc.
This article aims to shed light on how dementia impacts communication as well as some helpful tips for having communication with dementia patients as they go through the disease’s phases.

How does dementia affect communication?

People with dementia face trouble in communicating & understanding what is being said to them. Their ability to interpret information weakens overtime and they might respond slowly. They may struggle to find the proper term, repeat phrases or words, or use one word to refer to another.They may become insecure, anxious, or depressed if they are unable to express themselves. Therefore, having goodcommunication is crucial to living well after diagnosed with dementia. It helps them in maintaining their quality of life, relationships, and sense of self.

Tips for communicating with patients with dementia:

1. Encourage them to communicate: Wherever possible, you should encourage them to participate in conversations with others. You should let them speak for themselves about their welfare/health issues during the conversation.

2. Acknowledge what they say: It’s very important to acknowledge what they say even if they say something which seems out of context to the conversation and they need to be encouraged to tell more.

3. Provide comfort: You should be in a peaceful & quiet environment while having conversation with them.Distractions like TV/radio should be turned off as they may find it difficult to focus on the conversation.

4. Adopt certain ways of talking: Try to speak slowly & clearly while speaking to them, using short phrases, and make eye contact with them when they’re speaking or asking questions. It’s very important to give them enough time to respond; otherwise they can feel pressured.

5. Communicate through body language: Sometimes, body language can facilitate greater understanding than words. you might need to make certain hand movements and facial expressions for better understanding. Holding the person’s hand and making physical contact with them can help to keep their attention & convey your concern.

6. Actively listen to them: You must put aside other tasks while having communication with them in order to give them your complete attention & try not to interrupt them while they are speaking.

For more information, visit the guidelines of NHS

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Communicating with patients with dementia

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