Communicating with an elderly person is not always an easy task. Barriers such as hearing loss associated with old age complicate understanding. But starting a conversation becomes even more complicated in the case of people with dementia, a degenerative disease that hinders their ability to listen, remember, pay attention and understand.
Despite this, it is essential that we do not stop in our efforts to talk to a person with dementia, because this way we will be able to know how they are doing, if their needs are covered, keep them company, combat boredom, sadness and unwanted loneliness. . Whether you are dedicated to caring for a person with dementia or if you are a family member or friend who wants to communicate with the person, you must know a series of keys to improve understanding in the conversation.
Avoid talking in environments with many distractions such as ambient noise, voices in the background, or the television on. Find quiet times and places to communicate. Make eye contact with the person and address them with a smile, which will help capture their attention and make them feel more encouraged to chat with you.
Communicate clearly and concisely, avoiding excessively long sentences and complex words. It is also not advisable to use clichés or colloquial expressions. Keep it short and ask him direct questions that he can easily understand and answer.
It is important that you vocalize your words well, that you project your voice well and that you speak slowly, so that the person can process and understand what you are telling them. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to raise your voice, just speak clearly. Also, don’t rush to speak or try to fill the gaps, give the person time to assimilate what you’ve said and think about their response.
Don’t make the mistake of addressing a person with dementia as if they were a small child. This is an older adult who, although he has difficulty understanding you, deserves to be treated with respect.
Be patient when communicating with a person with dementia. Repeat things as many times as necessary for him to understand you and, if you see that he does not understand you, change the subject to prevent him from getting frustrated or disconnecting from the conversation. Be empathetic and put yourself in their shoes to try to make them feel as good as possible.
Dementia primarily impairs short-term memory, so it may be best to talk about past issues such as anecdotes from the person’s youth. Or questions of the immediate present, such as how you are or the weather.
