How to Communicate Part 1

How should we communicate with someone who has dementia:

Make sure you're in a good place to talk – quiet, with good lighting and without too many distractions (e.g. no radio or TV on in the background).

Get the person's full attention before you start.

Position yourself where the person can see you as clearly as possible (e.g. with your face well-lit) and try to be on the same level as the person, rather than standing over them.

Sit close to the person (although not so close you are in their personal space) and make eye contact.

Make sure your body language is open and relaxed.

Have enough time to spend with the person. If you feel rushed or stressed, take some time to calm down.

Think about what you are going to talk about. It may be useful to have an idea for a particular topic ready. You can also use the person's environment to stimulate topics.

If there is a time of day where the person will be more able to communicate (e.g. in the morning) try to use this time to ask any questions or talk about anything you need to. Make the most of 'good' days and find ways to adapt on 'bad' ones.

Make sure any of the person's other needs are met before you start (e.g. they're not hungry or in pain).