Welcome to the March newsletter!
Bridging the gap: Dementia communication strategies
It's so routine that Katherine Lyman can easily summon the scenario: flanked by a family member, a dementia patient walks into her office and effectively becomes invisible, her thoughts deemed irrelevant. "Don't bother asking her any questions," the relative tells Lyman, a geriatric nurse practitioner at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "You're not going to get the answers you need."
Communication and Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias gradually diminish a person's ability to communicate. Communication with a person with Alzheimer's requires patience, understanding and good listening skills. The strategies below can help both you and the person with dementia understand each other better.
How to communicate with a person with dementia
Dementia affects everyone differently so it's important to communicate in a way that is right for the person. Listen carefully and think about what you're going to say and how you'll say it. You can also communicate meaningfully without using spoken words.
Everyone’s experience of dementia is unique, so not every tip may help the person you care for. Use the tips that you feel will improve communication between you.