As dementia progresses, changes in communication may become one of the most challenging aspects to navigate for both the person living with dementia and their caregivers.
Dementia damages certain parts of the brain and this may affect someone’s ability to communicate. Depending on where they are in the progression of the disease, they may have difficulty finding the right word, talk less than usual or lose their train of thought more often than before.
There are ways to connect with people living with dementia. Here are five communication tips:
1. Get their attention – Plan conversations or activities that the person living with dementia enjoys or focus on something they can do. Making eye contact and pointing to an actual object will help the person concentrate and understand the context of the conversations.
2. Speak clearly – Speaking clearly in short sentences will help the person living with dementia understand the conversation. Also, watch out for tone of voice and pitch. For example, people living with dementia may be more receptive to a lower-pitched voice because it may be easier to hear, especially if they are experiencing hearing loss.
3. Allow time for a response – It may take longer for someone living with dementia to gather their thoughts. It is OK to give them more time to process the information. Sometimes, they may be overwhelmed when given too many choices, so you can simplify decision-making by offering only one or two options.
4. Listen carefully – Listening requires more than open ears. Paying attention to what you see, along with your knowledge of the person, is also crucial in identifying verbal and non-verbal cues.
5. Connect, don’t correct – In addition to listening, it is also important to try to understand their perspective. The person’s reality may be different from your reality. Instead of arguing about facts, try to provide comfort and reassurance.
What's coming to the Yukon in August
A series of dementia education events will take place in the Yukon:
Creating dementia-friendly environments
- Aug. 13 at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Whitehorse Public Library, Whitehorse
Introduction to brain health
- Aug. 13 at 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Golden Age Society, Whitehorse
Introduction to brain health
- Aug. 14 at 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. at St Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction
To register: Call the First Link® Yukon Dementia Helpline at 1-888-852-2579. Visit alzbc.org/dementia-events-yukon for more event details.
The First Link® Yukon Dementia Helpline is also for anyone in the Yukon who is affected by dementia – including people living with dementia, their families, caregivers and health-care providers, as well as others who are concerned about dementia or memory loss. This service is provided in collaboration with the Yukon Government.
Call the toll-free number: 1-888-852-2579 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) All calls are confidential.