Listening

This is one of the most important things in dementia communication. When having a conversation with someone with dementia, it is vital that you listen carefully to what they are saying.

Moreover, active listening was found to improve dementia communication, so make sure you offer encouragement both verbally and non-verbally. Two things that can help a lot and that you can do are nod and make eye contact.

Pay attention to the person’s body language, as it can tell a lot about their emotions. The way they hold themselves and the expressions on their faces can give you clear signs about how they’re feeling when they communicate.

There are likely to be moments when you don’t fully understand what the person is saying to you, so it’s important to ask them to repeat. If you’re still unable to understand, rephrase their answer to check if you’ve got it right.

If the person has difficulty finishing a sentence or finding the right word, ask them to explain it in a different way. Listen carefully and look out for clues. One thing that helps in dementia communication when the person cannot remember the word for a particular object is to ask them to describe it instead.

Being patient with them is the key. Allow them plenty of time to respond. A person with dementia may take longer to process the information and come up with a response. When this happens, try not to interrupt them, even when you feel like helping them find a word. Doing this can break the pattern of communication, so remember not to do that.

If the person is upset, it’s important to let them express their feelings. Give them the time they need, and don’t dismiss their worries—the best thing you can often do is just listen and let them know you’re there for them.