7 Ways to Effectively Talk to Someone with Dementia

Interacting with an elderly loved one with dementia can be challenging, but with good communication strategies, things can be less hectic. You’ll need to set a positive mood, avoid interrupting, and allow your loved one to be honest and open. Continue reading to learn how to speak effectively with a senior who is living with dementia.

1. Speak Clearly & Concisely

If you talk too quickly and your voice isn’t audible, your loved one may have difficulty listening. To prevent your loved one from getting overwhelmed and stopping the conversation, speak clearly and concisely. Language skills decrease over time in seniors with dementia, so you should use simple words and be ready to repeat things a couple of times. To prevent confusion, avoid using abbreviations or pronouns when speaking about people, places, and things.

2. Look for Nonverbal Clues

If your loved one is uncomfortable, it may be difficult to carry on a conversation or communicate effectively. Watch for nonverbal clues to determine if your loved one is in pain or needs assistance with a task. Don’t move on with a conversation until you’ve checked your loved one’s comfort levels. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

3. Avoid Asking Multiple Questions

Processing more than one question at a time may be complicated as dementia continues to damage the brain cells. Your loved one may need to take a few minutes to understand one question before answering and moving forward with the conversation. To prevent frustration and confusion, avoid asking multiple questions at once. Base the types of questions and discussions you have on your parent’s mood and cognitive abilities. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Des Moines Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

4. Eliminate Background Noises

Dementia disrupts processing speed and focusing abilities, which is why the room should be quiet when you’re having a conversation. Turning off the television, radio, kitchen appliances, and other background noises that could distract your loved one gives him or her the ability to focus better when you’re speaking.

5. Don’t Rush

Since processing speeds decrease as dementia progresses, you need to remain patient when giving instructions or having a conversation. Rushing your loved one could increase the risk of combative behavior. Allow your loved one to respond at his or her own pace instead of hurrying on to the next question.

6. Be Respectful

Regardless of how many times your parent asks you a question, never lose your temper. If you overreact, it could cause your loved one to feel angry, embarrassed, or sad. Dementia increases cognitive decline and memory loss, making it difficult to comprehend and communicate with others.

7. Develop Distraction Techniques

Some conversations may be difficult for your loved one to follow no matter how clearly and calmly you speak. As a result, he or she could become agitated and aggressive. In these instances, use distraction techniques to prevent the situation from escalating. You could redirect your loved one’s attention by suggesting he or she play a game or do arts and crafts. If you’re looking for reliable dementia care, Des Moines Home Care Assistance offers high-quality at-home care for seniors who are managing the challenges of cognitive decline. We offer a revolutionary program called the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), which uses mentally stimulating activities to boost cognitive health in the elderly. CTM has proven to help seniors with dementia regain a sense of pride and accomplishment and learn how to engage with others in an enjoyable way. To learn about our high-quality in-home dementia care services, give us a call at (515) 264-2438 today.