Alzheimer's and Dementia

Dementia Communication – The Essential Do’s and Don’ts

This a guest post from Home Instead Senior Care - originally published in the Irish Pensioners Handbook 2011DO Talk ...

24 August 2011   Category: Alzheimer’s and Dementia

This a guest post from Home Instead Senior Care – originally published in the Irish Pensioners Handbook 2011

DO
  • Talk to the person in a tone of voice than conveys respect and dignity
  • Keep your explanations short. Use clear and flexible language
  • Maintain eye contact by positioning yourself at the person’s eye level. Look directly at the person and ensure that you have their attention before you speak. Always begin by identifying yourself and explain what it is you propose to do
  • Use visual cues whenever possible
  • Be realistic in expectations
  • Observe and attempt to interpret the person’s non verbal communication
  • Paraphrase and use a calm and reassuring tone of voice
  • Speak slowly and say individual words clearly. Use strategies to reduce the effect of hearing impairment
  • Encourage talk about things that they are familiar with
  • Use touch if appropriate
 
DON’T
  • Talk to the person in ‘baby talk’ or as if you are talking to a child
  • Use complicated words or phrases and long sentences
  • Glare at or “eyeball” the person you are talking to
  • Begin a task without explaining who you are or what you are about to do
  • Talk to the person without eye contact, such as while rummaging in a drawer to select clothing
  • Try and compete with a distracting environment
  • Provoke a catastrophic reaction through unrealistic expectations or by asking the person to do more than one task at a time
  • Disregard your own non verbal communication
  • Disregard talk that may seem to be “rambling”
  • Shout or talk too fast
  • Interrupt unless it cannot be helped
  • Attempt to touch or invade their personal space if they are showing signs of fear or aggression
– For further information on home care options and more great information, visit www.homeinstead.ie.

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