Dementia is an illness that's progressive, meaning its symptoms will become worse with time. Some of the most common symptoms can impact a person's ability to communicate effectively - both in the early and later stages of the illness. Being able to communicate well with someone after they've been diagnosed with dementia is really important.
Whether you're providing care for or supporting a loved one, good communication helps the person living with dementia sustain their relationships, feel involved, and have their needs understood - remember, the person you love is still there.
We'll be outlining some positive steps you can take around dementia and communication in this guide. However, before we do, let's understand how the ways in which dementia can affect communication.
Contents
How does Dementia affect communication?
How to communicate with someone with Dementia
How does Dementia affect communication?
It's important to remember people diagnosed with dementia don't experience symptoms in the same way. Some of the most common ones that impact communication in the early stages of dementia include
- difficulty following conversations or finding the right word
- concentration difficulties
- memory loss
So, a person might use related words or substitute descriptions to refer to what they're talking about. They might struggle to understand what you're saying or mean, instead interpreting what you've said very differently. Words and grammar can also become scrambled, meaning speech is incoherent and lacks meaning.
As the illness progresses, some people may lose the ability to speak altogether, with non-verbal cues becoming a more important method of communication. It won't mean that you can't communicate, however. Instead, it's about adapting how you communicate to find a way that's right for the individual.
How to communicate with someone with Dementia
Dementia affects different people in different ways. So, you can adapt these techniques to use those that you feel will work best for you and the person you're communicating with. Here are just eight ways you can communicate with people with dementia:
1. Set the right environment: People living with dementia can find it particularly difficult to focus on conversations in environments where there is a lot going on. Ideally, the setting should be quiet, with minimal background noise - and no distractions from TV or radio. And the space should be well-lit.
2. Choose the right time of day: Is there a time during which the person can communicate more effectively? If so, try to use this time to talk and ask questions.
3. Make sure they're comfortable: Any needs the person has should be met before you start talking. So, for example, they shouldn't be hungry or in any pain or distress.
4. Speak slowly and clearly: Use short sentences and communicate calmly. You should avoid speaking to the person as you would a child. Be respectful and take into account that it may take them longer to process what you're saying.
5. Give time for a response: Even if the pause feels longer than usual or at times uncomfortable, you should always allow them the time to process what you've just said and provide their response. Try to avoid being too quick to assume you know exactly what it is they're trying to communicate either.
6. Quick, regular conversations: If you find the person becomes tired quickly when talking, keeping the conversations short but regular can be a real help.
7. Avoid asking too many questions: Asking lots of questions or complicated questions can cause frustration when the person can't find the answer to them. Questions that can be answered with a 'yes' or 'no' are good in these circumstances.
8. Don't be afraid to rephrase: You might find the person still doesn't understand what you've said after you've repeated it. In this instance, you could try rephrasing what you've said or break it down into smaller more manageable pieces - that can be understood more easily.
Visit our dementia care page to learn more about our approach to supporting those affected by the illness, or find your nearest Sanctuary care home to explore how we can help you or your loved one get the support required.
