Helping Families Cope – Communication to Smooth the Process
When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, the damage to his or her brain can make it difficult to recall or to understand words. Attempting to recall or decipher words can be overwhelming and result in frustration. The person may become agitated or repeat one word or a question over and over – a true test of your patience and understanding.
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia often:
- Lose their train of thought
- Need more time to comprehend what is being said
- Curse or use abusive or offensive language
As a family member, you can enhance communication with your loved one by:
- Avoiding distractions and noise.
- Keeping things simple – using short sentences and plain words.
- Avoiding questions – offering suggestions instead.
- Being patient and not interrupting when your loved one is expressing him or herself.
- Maintaining eye contact and showing interest. Staying near your loved one, so he or she knows someone is listening and trying to understand.
- Not taking it personally. As hurtful as it is, you need to remember it is the disease talking, not your loved one.
- Using props and cues to increase recognition. For example, when taking your loved one to the bathroom, you can point to the toilet and ask, “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
- Remaining calm – using a normal and relaxed voice. Patience pays off with a smoother day.