Response to stimuli, understanding of the information received and the capacity to make others understand may vary from person to person and can give rise to barriers in communication. These barriers become more difficult to overcome when there is a degree of associated dementia. However, there are some simple things that can be done to make communication easier. Simple measures that can help you communicate with people with dementia These are associated with the degree of attention, the type of language and the relationship between the people involved. Things that should be avoided. Attention Ensure you have the attention of the person you are talking to; Keep noise and distractions to a minimum; Identify yourself by your name and tell them who you are (for example, “I am your daughter”, “I am your nurse”, etc.); Try to maintain eye contact. Be aware of any hearing or visual impairments; Keep activities simple; Ask for one simple task to be carried out at a time; Try to allow the patient to make decisions, even if you only give them limited options (where possible); If the patient gets upset when you try to communicate, talk about something else and then return to the original subject at a later point. Language Speak slowly; Keep sentences short; Use an appropriate tone of voice together with facial expressions and body language that can help the patient understand what you are saying; Use simple, well-pronounced and well-spaced words; Try to formulate the questions so the answer is simple, or give two options for the patient to choose from (for example, “do you want to wear the green blouse or the blue blouse?”); Stimulate responses with verbal and visual cues (for example, images, objects or written messages). Affection Treat the patient with respect; Be friendly and affectionate; If you are a family member or friend of the patient, treat them in the same way that you always have; If you're not a family member or a friend of the patient, treat them in the same way they are used to you treating them. In these circumstances: do not use your own name unless it is the only one the patient knows you by; Address and speak to the patient according to your degree of familiarity and relationship; Any physical contact with the patient should correspond to the type of relationship that you have previously had with them as it can be interpreted in different ways. Things to avoid Don’t patronise the patient; Don’t give more than one instruction or piece of information at a time; Don’t push for answers. If you are unable to obtain a verbal answer to a question, try to identify what they are trying to say from the patient’s body language; Don’t correct wrong answers or make the patient acknowledge they have made a mistake. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
