If you are looking after someone who is newly diagnosed with dementia, here at Bluebird Care South Leeds, we know that communication challenges are likely to be on your mind. Below are some tips on communicating with and encouraging responses from a person who has dementia.
As time goes by, Dementia will affect a person's ability to remember and understand basic everyday facts, such as names, dates and places and it will also gradually affect the way they communicate.
A person with dementia's ability to process information gets progressively weaker and their responses can become delayed. The NHS recommends that, as the illness progresses, you should take the lead and start discussions to get the person to make conversation.
Try to start regular conversations with the person you're looking after or spending time with, especially if you notice that they're starting fewer conversations themselves.
It always helps if you speak clearly and slowly, using short sentences and making eye contact with the person, both when you are speaking and when they're talking or asking questions.
Aim to be patient and unhurried and allow them time to respond. Don’t pressure them or make them feel you’re trying to speed up their answers or to answer for them. It’s all the more important to let them speak for themselves during discussions concerning their welfare or health and any treatments or actions that may result.
Try to encourage them to join in conversations, not just with you, but also when there are other people around.
Never ridicule what they say and always acknowledge what they have said. They might not have answered your question and what they’ve said might seem unconnected with the flow of the conversation. But concentrate on showing them that you've heard and encourage them to say more, if possible.
Avoid providing too many options. Provide simple choices, simple language and short sentences. If they don’t immediately understand, try gently rephrasing your question. But, again, don’t hurry them.
The more time you spend speaking to them, the better you will understand them and, if they are having trouble communicating, your time and patience may allow you to spot the meaning behind their words.
Avoid challenging their memories. For example, don’t ask them about what they have been doing recently. But, also, avoid getting into arguments about what they’ve said, even if you think they are wrong. Tripping them up or correcting them may cause confusion or distress. Listen and acknowledge what they have said.
If you are spending time with them, you can help them to create a memory book, full of photos of special times, like holidays, weddings and birthdays. This will help them to remember, but will also give any professional carers or health workers something to understand them by and a shared topic of conversation.
Bluebird Care South Leeds
We provide Home Care, Night Care, Live-in Care and a range of other support in the South Leeds area, including the following:
- South Central Leeds & City Centre
- Middleton
- Garforth
- Farnley
- Wortley
- Armley
- Holton
- Barwick
- Swarcliffe
- Colton
- Morley
- Pudsey
- Batley
- Ossett
