Dementia Communication Tips
Talking with someone who has dementia can be challenging. Applying some simple yet effective dementia communication techniques make it easier to connect with them and enjoy meaningful time together. Keep these helpful tips in mind when you’re communicating with someone who has dementia: Take a moment for yourself It can be challenging to see someone living with dementia. You may feel a wide variety of emotions which can influence your own behaviour. Take a minute to ground yourself before engaging in conversation. Stay positive, warm, and calm Someone with dementia can pick up on emotions, especially if they don’t match the tone you are trying to use. Remember that this is someone you care about. You want to show that you care about them and their time together. Remove distractions Like any person, someone with dementia may struggle with communication when there are distractions around. Televisions, radios, and kids running around can easily catch our attention. What is vaguely distracting for us, though, can be torturous for people with dementia. Identify yourself When someone has dementia, they may not immediately remember who you are. Make sure to gently tell them your name and how you’re related. This can help bring back memories and make them feel safe. Speak slowly Take time to slow down when you speak. It can give them time to absorb what you are saying and make connections. Use shorter sentences and smaller words Run-on sentences and complicated words can be confusing. Use one sentence at a time, pausing to let the person digest what you’ve said before continuing. The amount of time you need to pause may change daily. Be direct To avoid confusion, say precisely what you mean. If referencing an object or another person, use the name or point rather than using pronouns. When talking about a person, state their relationship to you and the person you are talking to. Don’t make assumptions It can be tempting to finish someone’s sentences or even assume they don’t want to participate in a social activity. Older adults deserve to have a say in their activities and know you’re there for them. Practice active listening Active listening is a form of communication that lets the other party know you’re listening. Nodding and responding in validating ways help people feel you want to hear more. Don’t block the conversation It’s okay to have boundaries around what you will and won’t discuss. However, there are some roadblocks to conversation that you should avoid. Avoid asking “Why…” or forcing someone to talk about something when they’re not in the mood to do it. That tends to shut down productive conversations. The most important thing when visiting and spending time with someone with dementia is precisely that – the time together.
Frontotemporal Dementia – Signs & Symptoms
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the fifth most common cause of dementia. It affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It is sometimes called frontal lobe dementia and used to be known as Pick’s disease. The affected areas of the brain control personality, emotions, behaviour, executive functioning, and speech. FTD tends to start at younger ages. At first, frontotemporal disorders leave other brain regions untouched, including those that control short-term memory. Diagnosing frontotemporal dementia There isn’t a single test that explicitly diagnoses FTD. Doctors must try to identify specific characteristics while ruling out other possible causes, like liver or kidney disease. Diagnosing in the early stages can be challenging because the symptoms often overlap with those of other conditions. Signs and symptoms of frontotemporal dementia The most common signs and symptoms of frontotemporal dementia are extreme changes in behaviour and personality. People typically have one type of symptom in the early stages of FTD. As the disease progresses, more symptoms will appear as more parts of the brain are affected. Common behavioural and personality symptoms include changes in personality and mood, avoiding socialising or being unwilling to talk, repetitive or obsessive behaviour, lack of inhibition or lack of social tact, a decline in personal hygiene, lack of judgment, apathy, lack of awareness, loss of empathy, changes in eating habits, and putting things in the mouth or trying to eat inedible objects People with FTD can usually keep track of day-to-day events and understand what’s happening around them; they typically keep their language skills and memory until late in the disease. Typical speech and language symptoms include difficulty finding the right word or calling objects by the correct name, trouble with reading and writing, losing the ability to understand or put together words in a spoken sentence, and speaking in a very hesitant or ungrammatical way. Common movement symptoms include tremors, rigid muscles, muscle spasms or weakness, poor coordination and difficulty swallowing. The difference between Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) Most people with frontotemporal dementia are diagnosed between ages 45 and 65. The majority of Alzheimer’s cases happen in people over age 65. With FTD, problems with memory may show up in advanced stages. In Alzheimer’s, memory problems show up early in the disease and tend to be a more prominent symptom. Changes in behaviour are an early sign of FTD and often are the first noticeable symptoms. Behaviour changes are also common as Alzheimer’s progresses, but they usually occur later in the disease. Problems with spatial orientation (like getting lost in familiar places) are more common with Alzheimer’s than with FTD. Hallucinations and delusions are also more common as Alzheimer’s progresses, but not very common in FTD. People who have FTD often have more problems speaking, understanding speech, and reading than people with Alzheimer’s.
Do’s and Don’ts for Visiting Someone with Dementia
Older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia still enjoy having visitors. But it takes skill for both sides to have a positive experience when visiting someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. So, set visitors up for success by sharing some do’s and don’ts beforehand. Having a great visit and understanding more about dementia might even encourage family and friends to visit more often. DO Keep your tone and body language friendly and upbeat. Don’t speak too loudly. Make eye contact and stay at their eye level. Introduce yourself even if you’re sure they must know you. “Hi, Grandma, I’m John, your grandson.” Speak slowly and in short sentences with only one idea per sentence. For example: “Hi Mary. I’m Jane, your friend.” Or “What a beautiful day. The sunshine is nice, isn’t it?” Give them extra time to speak or answer questions; don’t rush the conversation. Use open-ended questions because there are no right or wrong answers. Be comfortable with sitting together in silence. They may enjoy that just as much as talking. Follow their lead; don’t force conversation topics or activities. Validate their feelings. Allow them to express sadness, fear, or anger. Enter their reality. Go with the flow of the conversation, even if they talk about things that aren’t true. Share and discuss memories of the past. They’re more likely to remember things from long ago. Come prepared with an activity, like something to read aloud or a photo album to look at. Give hugs, gentle touches, or massage arms or shoulders if the person gives permission and enjoys it. DON’T Don’t say, “Do you remember?” This can cause anger or embarrassment. Don’t argue. If they say something that’s not correct, just let it go. Don’t point out mistakes. It just makes them feel bad and doesn’t help the conversation. Don’t assume they don’t remember anything. Many people have moments of clarity. Don’t take mean or nasty things they say personally. The disease may twist their words or make them react badly out of confusion, frustration, or anger. Don’t talk down to them. They aren’t children, and you should show the proper respect. Tips for planning visits Limit visitors to one or two people at a time. Too many people can be overwhelming. Schedule visits for the time of day when your older adult is usually at their best. Minimise distractions by keeping the environment calm and quiet. Turn off the TV or loud music and ask non-visitors to go to another room.