Communication Tips

You already know that caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease requires tremendous patience and understanding.

You also know that even in ideal situations, people misunderstand each other every day. So, how are you going to communicate clearly when Alzheimer's makes conversations difficult or confusing?

As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's may:
  • Have trouble finding the word they want
  • Repeat familiar words
  • Invent new words
  • Lose a train of thought in mid-sentence
  • Use curse words more often
  • Put words into an illogical order
  • Speak less
  • Use nonverbal gestures more than words

22 Ways You Can Improve Communication
Here are 22 ideas for improved communication with Alzheimer's patients.
  1. Identify yourself, or others, before you begin a conversation to orient the patient.
    For example,  "I'm your daughter, Karen" or "This is Bob, our neighbor."
  2. Use simple, familiar words.
  3. Maintain eye contact.
  4. Short sentences are easier to understand.
  5. Weed out slang and cliches. Use simple language.
  6. Keep to the point.
  7. Break instructions into bite-size pieces; talk about one step at a time.
  8. Speak clearly.
  9. Speak slowly.
  10. Don't ask more than one question.
  11. Wait for responses. It takes an AD patient longer to process information.
  12. Provide answers, instead of questions when possible.
    Say, "Here's your lunch" rather than, "Are you hungry?"
  13. Be specific. "Let's put on your shoes" is clearer than, "Let's put these on."
  14. Visual clues are important. Point, touch, or display your subject.
  15. Provide simple explanations. "It's fun this way." "It's safer." "It's your favorite."
  16. Use a positive tone of voice, especially for difficult tasks.
  17. Stay calm and your patient will stay calm.
  18. Smiles and happy expressions will reassure your patient and you, too.
  19. Eliminate distractions such as TV or radio, and find a quiet place to talk, or sit together.
  20. Smile, touch, hold hands, nod and maintain eye contact to show you are paying attention.
  21. Sound agreeable. Tone of voice can persuade even when the words aren't understood.
  22. Talk in the same way you would if you were speaking to someone just learning the language — identify objects and use gestures to clarify the meaning of your words.

Other Ways to Communicate
Sometimes words disappear or cease to make sense. You'll have to find new ways to talk as memory and cognitive skills decline. You can communicate through shared experiences, such as art, music, nature walks, or looking at old photos together.

Watercolors, drawing, coloring with crayons, and working with clay can be satisfying ways to spend time together. Some pottery studios are certified to work with people with physical or developmental challenges. Therapeutic art is successful in rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities. Whether you go out, or stay at the kitchen table, art can be a fun, shared activity.

Or, choose music from your patient's youth, and play it. Your person may enjoy listening, or perhaps dancing about the living room to favorite songs.

The Bottom Line
If something you say doesn't work the first time you communicate it, whether it's eating, bathing,
or getting into the car, wait a few minutes, and try again as if for the first time. Try some of the
tips above for better communication. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Copyright 2003-2020 | Karen Favo Walsh |  www.AlzheimerStories.com