Communication and Dementia

Question 1

What communication challenges do individuals with dementia face?

Answer 1

● Smaller vocabulary

● Trouble finding the right words

● Hard time understanding or explaining things

● Forgetting what they were talking about

● Getting easily distracted

Question 2

What is Person-centered approach to communication?

Answer 2

● communication is possible
● Focus on abilities
● Be positive and respectful
● Accept their reality

Question 3

Describe these two communication techniques often used in caregiving and conflict resolution:

Validation / Distract & Redirect

Answer 3

● Validation: Understand and accept their feelings without arguing, focus on emotions, respond patiently.

● ​Distract and redirect: Validate feelings, distract with activity, redirect to positive focus.

Question 4

What do you need to consider when communicating with client who have dementia?

Answer 4

● Use simple, clear, short sentences

● Speak slowly, one instruction at a time, allow time to process

● Use body language: eye contact, smile, gestures

● Use positive language, closed questions for tasks, open questions for conversation