Communicating with a person who has dementia is challenging, but it’s also incredibly important.
Communication is challenging enough, but when you are attempting to communicate with someone who has dementia, the obstacles can seem insurmountable. That’s why, in our last blog, our memory care specialists in Chapel Hill started giving you helpful tips on how to communicate with a loved one who has dementia. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, check it out! Keep reading to learn more communication tips:
#3. Set a positive mood with your body language.
As we said in our last blog, body language says a whole lot more than words ever could, and that isn’t just true for your loved one’s body language, it’s also true for yours. Regardless of whether your loved one understands what you are saying or not, you can use your tone of voice, facial expressions and physical touch to express yourself in a way that they will be able to understand.
#4. Always show your loved one respect.
Too many people make the mistake of using “baby talk” when communicating with people who have dementia. They are not your baby or your dog, and although they may not show it, they can understand that you are talking down to them. You should also never talk about them as if they aren’t in the room or assume that they don’t understand you.
These are just a few of the many things that you can do to communicate more effectively with a loved one who has dementia. Would you like to learn more? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.
