1. Communication &Communication &
DementiaDementia
Claire M. Henry, M.Ed.,CDPClaire M. Henry, M.Ed.,CDP

2. Communication &Communication &
DementiaDementia

3. Early Stage (aware)Early Stage (aware)
 Able to maintain conversationsAble to maintain conversations
 Frequent requests for clarificationFrequent requests for clarification
 May have difficulty understanding humor,May have difficulty understanding humor,
analogies, sarcasm, abstract expressionsanalogies, sarcasm, abstract expressions
 May fail to initiate conversationMay fail to initiate conversation
 Drifts from topic; vagueDrifts from topic; vague
 Word fluency and word findingWord fluency and word finding
compromised.compromised.

4. Middle Stage (LessMiddle Stage (Less
Aware)Aware)
 Poor topic maintenancePoor topic maintenance
 Know when to talkKnow when to talk
 Responds to questionsResponds to questions
 Frequently repeats ideasFrequently repeats ideas
 Talks about past eventsTalks about past events
 Diminished vocabularyDiminished vocabulary
 Some difficulty with comprehensionSome difficulty with comprehension

5. Late Stages (Unaware)Late Stages (Unaware)
 Difficulty maintaining eye contactDifficulty maintaining eye contact
 Output may be meaningless orOutput may be meaningless or
bizarrebizarre
 Fewer wordsFewer words
 Few related ideasFew related ideas
 Mutism in final stageMutism in final stage

6. Guidelines forGuidelines for
CommunicationCommunication
 For many with cognitive impairment theirFor many with cognitive impairment their
word finding ability has deteriorated toword finding ability has deteriorated to
such an extent that their ability to findsuch an extent that their ability to find
words becomes extremely frustrating aswords becomes extremely frustrating as
the disease progresses, caregivers needthe disease progresses, caregivers need
to become increasing sensitive to theto become increasing sensitive to the
communication needs of the dementiacommunication needs of the dementia
individual.individual.

7. Guidelines forGuidelines for
CommunicationCommunication
 Nonverbal communication impacts howNonverbal communication impacts how
the caregiver is going to communicate tothe caregiver is going to communicate to
the person with dementia who begins tothe person with dementia who begins to
have difficulty processing language, i.e.have difficulty processing language, i.e.
body language, voice tone and facialbody language, voice tone and facial
expression. Understanding,expression. Understanding,
communication approaches with thecommunication approaches with the
dementia person, with cleardementia person, with clear
communication.communication.

8. Guidelines forGuidelines for
communicationcommunication
 1. Ask one question at a time1. Ask one question at a time
 2. Allow enough time for a response2. Allow enough time for a response
 3. Assume the resident is able to3. Assume the resident is able to
respond.respond.
 4. Avoid disagreement: never argue with4. Avoid disagreement: never argue with
a dementia resident.a dementia resident.
 Avoid trite phrasesAvoid trite phrases

9. Guidelines forGuidelines for
CommunicationCommunication
 6. Apologize if you upset the resident6. Apologize if you upset the resident
 7. Use residents preferred name at all7. Use residents preferred name at all
timestimes
 8. Include the resident’s in your8. Include the resident’s in your
conversationsconversations
 9. Speak to residents like adults9. Speak to residents like adults
 10 Use encouragement, reassurance10 Use encouragement, reassurance
and praise.and praise.

10. Guidelines forGuidelines for
CommunicationCommunication
 6. Apologize if you upset the resident6. Apologize if you upset the resident
 7. Use residents preferred name at all7. Use residents preferred name at all
timestimes
 8. Include the resident’s in your8. Include the resident’s in your
conversationsconversations
 9. Speak to residents like adults9. Speak to residents like adults
 10 Use encouragement, reassurance10 Use encouragement, reassurance
and praise.and praise.