Stewart Mcginn, managing director at Baycroft Care Homes, provides his tips and strategies to help carers ensure they communicate properly with people living with dementia.
Trying to communicate effectively with people living with dementia can be difficult for everyone involved. Unfortunately, it can often leave both parties upset, frustrated, and unheard.
With the many different ways you can address communication, carers might feel like it’s a matter of trial and error – but try not to get disheartened in the process. It’s important to remember that what works for one person with dementia may not work for another. However, each method that is trailed will take you one step closer to building more meaningful communication.
It is crucial carers find the right approach that works for both parties. So, where to start?
- Simplify your language choice
Simplify your choice of language. Try to make your sentences more concise and avoid asking open-ended questions. For example, ask questions that can be responded to with a simple yes or no. This will make it much easier for the care recipient to reply.
2. A clear and positive delivery
It’s important to make sure that your speech is delivered slowly, clearly and at a volume that is easy to hear to avoid any confusion. Maintain eye contact when speaking and use a gentle and positive tone of voice to help the person feel at ease.
3. Be patient
Make sure to give the client time to respond to questions, even if they are repeating themselves or taking a while to give their response. It’s important they don’t feel rushed or interrupted as this can lead to them feeling pressured.
4. Listen actively and rephrase
By listening actively, you will be able to understand whether the client is struggling with the question asked. If they aren’t responding, you can repeat the question back to them or try to rephrase the question in a different way.
5. Acknowledge what they say
Sometimes the person suffering from dementia might say something that seems out of context to the conversation you are having; it is still important to acknowledge what they have said and encourage them to tell you more about their response.
6. Non-verbal cues
Remember that communication doesn’t have to mean conversation. Sometimes non-verbal cues can mean more to someone than words. This can include facial expressions and hand gestures, or physical touch, like holding their hand, putting an arm around their shoulder or hugging them to provide comfort, safety and love.
7. Use visual aids
Visual aids are a great way to encourage communication if a conversation is proving to be difficult. This can include anything from photographs, mementoes, written letters and familiar objects that will help the person understand you.
8. Create a distraction-free environment
Try to have your conversations in a familiar, distraction-free, and quiet space where communication can be focused on. Visual clutter, loud noise or new spaces can be overwhelming and make it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
