Three times within 10 minutes the question “What is there is to eat today?”: Relatives sometimes feel very tedious conversations with people with dementia. It is important to stay in touch – if the silence takes over, the sick person can lead to social isolation. The Alzheimer Research Initiative (AFI) gives tips on how communication works better.
Tip 1: Communicate at eye level
Anyone who is interrupted in the middle of the sentence or corrected from above does not feel taken seriously. This also applies and exactly to people who have dementia.
They should therefore recognize relatives as an equivalent interlocutor. You can signal this through a calm tone, eye contact and because you let your counterpart talk to your counterpart – even if that takes longer.
Tip 2: just formulate
People with dementia are difficult to follow long, nested sentences. Anyone who follows the principle of “information per set” communicates more clearly – and makes it easier for their counterpart.
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Questions should also be as easy as possible. This works by supplying with answer options, à la “Do you want to drink orange juice or apple juice?”. An alternative are questions that can be answered with yes or no.
Important information is best repeated several times. You should always use the same wording, so you should not re -formulate the sentence. So what is said is better understood.
Tip 3: Use your body too
Communication not only goes through words, but also through facial expressions and suitable gestures. For example, relatives can be the question “Do you want a coffee?” The AFI advises with a drinking gesture.
The language is increasingly lost in the course of the disease. Relatives can then make it clear: there are other ways to stay connected to the patient. Listen to the favorite music together, look at old photos, sit in the sun, a hug: This is how moments of proximity and connection can be created without words.
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