Dos and Don'ts of communicating with a person with Dementia

Submitted by Aishwarya Solanki on 22 February 2017

Communicating with a person with dementia can be quite a challenge. There are some tips that can definitely help get the attention of the person and not agitate them. Here are some Dos and Don'ts.


DO's DON'Ts
Approach from the front, make eye contact and introduce yourself if necessary Don’t wave hand while talking as person’s attention could be distracted
Speak slowly, calmly and use a friendly facial expression Don’t talk too fast or shout. Shouting out could have negative effect as the person would feel threatened. 
Be patient when talking to the person Don't interrupt the person while he/she is talking.
Use short simple and familiar words. Don’t use complicated words.
Show that you are listening and trying to understand what is being said. Don’t walk away from the person while talking.
Ask one question at a time, and allow time for a reply.  Don’t talk without pausing. The person may find it difficult to follow through long sentences.
Make positive suggestions- eg. “Let’s go into garden “ rather than negative one, such as “let’s not go there” Don’t confront or correct if it can be avoided. Avoid arguing and criticising.
Identify each other by name rather than using pronouns (she, he). Don’t talk about the person as if he/she weren’t there.
Empathise and be understanding. Touch or hug if it will help. Don’t show displeasure when the person could not respond properly to the message.
Be sensitive when dealing with the person Don’t treat the person as a child
Use light/ pastel colours as they have a soothing effect. Don’t use bright colours in the environment.
   

Stay tuned next week for - Tips for Bathing, Dressing & Eating !

Community
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorder PDMDS
Condition
Dementia
Parkinson Disease
Changed
Wed, 02/22/2017 - 19:25

Stories

  • People with dementia should continue to live with respect and dignity in the community
    Jason Foo, the CEO of ADA (Alzheimer’s Disease Association), Singapore, shares his views on the rising levels of the disease, how personalised treatment can help and also how spreading awareness can remove the existing stigma. What are the possible reasons for increase in Young onset dementia? (Is there a difference between Young onset dementia and early onset dementia?) Young Onset Dementia (YOD) and Early Onset Dementia (EOD) refer to the same condition which is dementia affecting people…
  • What Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia Must Understand For More Effective Care
    Dementia care is difficult. Caregivers have to be persistent and creative to make the ongoing adjustments required. Swapna Kishore discusses some important aspects that caregivers must understand and accept, and offers some tips to cope better. It is often assumed that family caregivers will be able to support their loved ones after dementia care is explained to them. But hearing about dementia symptoms or communication methods in a classroom is not enough to make family caregivers give better…
  • Why do we need Dementia Friendly Communities
    Dr. Sridhar Vaitheswaran explains how supporting a person with dementia effectively in a dementia friendly community can improve not only their wellbeing but also improve caregiver satisfaction, decrease burden and contribute to the society’s progress.  The story of Mr Arun Mr Arun is a seventy-year old retired government employee. He lives with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in Chennai. He helps with the chores such as shopping and paying bills. He also visits a…
  • Empathy will bring out Best Care for Person with Dementia
    Amrita Patil Pimpale, a qualified Dementia Care Trainer and Founder of Echoing Healthy Ageing, a social enterprise working in Dementia care sector, provides consultation and training for families and healthcare professionals in order to sensitize them to care for elderly with dementia. Here she advocates methods on how to improve quality of life for dementia patients and their caregivers. As a dementia caregiver consultant, what are the tips and advice that you give caregivers to facilitate…
  • Remember Me - The Unheard Cry for Help
    Every three seconds one person in the world develops dementia. Dr Amit Dias, an epidemiologist and geriatrician who is one of the leaders of  the dementia awareness movement in India, throws light on ADI’s ‘Remember Me’ campaign as the World observes the Alzheimer’s Awareness month in September. What does the ‘Remember Me’ campaign mean to you? ‘Remember Me’ is a global campaign initiated by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), UK that reminds me that I need to step up my efforts…
  • Dental Care for the Elderly
    Dental needs become increasingly specialized with age, making regular visits to the dentist even more important. Dr Shail Jaggi highlights some common gum and teeth problems that could become burdensome, if ignored. When we think of an elderly patient the first vision that generally tends to flash by is someone with greying hair, stooping and bent over with age, thick glasses and a denture to eat! But let’s take a quick look at my office! I am dentist and deal with geriatric patients all the…
  • Humans of Parkinsons story - Mr. Suryanarayan
    "I have been a stenographer, an advocate and have obtained a degree in information technology. It has been five years since I have retired. My left hand had started giving me a lot of trouble, and was not obeying my commands. It was then diagnosed that I had Parkinson's. I live alone, and I try to focus on not being limited by anyone, and try my best to not limit others too. I have a responsibility towards myself, and I focus on that. My daily routine is very active and I like it that way…
  • Nutrition in Parkinson’s Disease
    Most of us know that Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects our body movement. The disease progresses slowly and gradually the quality of life is affected. The rate of progression generally varies from person to person and is very individualized. As is the case with most diseases, medication is prescribed to control the progression of the disease. Nutrition is particularly important in Parkinson’s disease for many reasons:  The disorder itself slows transition through…
  • A Parkinsons Support Group Meeting in India
    What is a Parkinson's Support Group?
    Support Group for Parkinson's in India run by PDMDS and in collaboration with their partners. Last Update - Feb 2019 A support group is an informal gathering of people who share similar experiences, situations or problems. By meeting together, Parkinson’s Support Group members can offer each other emotional and practical support. In such a group, one is able to learn about Parkinson’s its problems and treatment. But most importantly the members share experiences and practical tips on living…
  • An elderly person on a wheelchair looking out to the lake with a male caregiver standing next to him
    20 Tips For Handling Hospital Stays and Medical Emergencies
    Sangeeta is a blogger who instills rare insight into her role of a caregiver. She not only chronicles the various methods which work for her father, who has Parkinson's, Dementia and Diplopia, but she backs it up with profound logic and common sense. The best part of her blog is her all-pervading humour which gives such a bitter sweet taste to her snippets of caregiving. Here are her top tips for handling medical emergencies and hospital stays.  My father  Anna was in a hospital for…