Dementia and Communication: What Do Family Caregivers Need to Do?

By Kevin Sharples, Owner | January 10, 2022 | Comments Off on Dementia and Communication: What Do Family Caregivers Need to Do?

As a family caregiver, if you are taking care of your elderly loved one that has dementia, one aspect of your relationship with them that might be difficult is communication. People who have dementia will progressively get worse with communicating. They may not understand what is being said to them and have issues responding, as well. The good news is there are some tips that can help you to have better conversations with your elderly loved one if they have dementia.

Know Their History

Home Care Canton, MI: Dementia and Communication

Are you new to taking care of your elderly loved one? Have they had dementia for a while? If this is the case, it would be helpful if you knew more about their history. If you don’t already have this information, do your best to find out. You can talk to the last person who took care of them. You can speak to their home care providers and doctors, as well. The more you know about how your elderly loved one usually communicates and what their day usually looks like, the better you can communicate with and care for them.

Using Shorter, Simpler Sentences

Another tip that can help you to communicate better with your elderly loved one if they have dementia is to use shorter, simpler sentences. As your elderly loved one’s disease progresses, they are going to understand less and less. However, if you can use smaller words and keep sentences short, it is more likely that your elderly loved one will get what you are saying or asking of them.

Make Eye Contact and Stand in the Proper Spot

Two other ways that you can improve the communications between you and your elderly loved one if they have dementia are making eye contact and standing in front of them when you talk.

Your elderly loved one may not be able to fully understand what you are saying. If you stand in front of them when you talk, they can see you and not get so overwhelmed. In addition, by doing this, you can make eye contact, so you can read their emotions and body language.

These two tips can go a long way in improving the communication between you and your elderly loved one.

Conclusion

There are many ways that you can improve the communication between you and your elderly loved one if they have dementia. By using these tips, you can start to work on improving the conversations you have with your elderly loved one right away. You can also talk to the home care providers about how they communicate with your elderly loved one. Then, you can use those tips, as well.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in Canton, MI please contact the caring staff at No Place Like Home Health, LLC today. 734-259-4200

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving-changes-communication-skills

Kevin Sharples, Owner
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