Tuesday Tips for Caregivers – Helping the Alzheimer’s Patient Communicate
Communicating with a person who has Alzheimer’s requires patience and understanding. Above all, you must be a good listener.
To help the person communicate:
- Be patient and supportive
Let the person know you’re listening and trying to understand what is being said.
- Show your interest
Keep good eye contact. Show the person that you care about what is being said.
- Offer comfort and reassurance
If he or she is having trouble communicating, let the person know that it’s okay. Encourage the person to continue to explain his or her thoughts.
- Give the person time
Let the person think about and describe whatever he or she wants to. Be careful not to interrupt.
- Avoid criticizing or correcting
Don’t tell the person what he or she is saying is incorrect. Instead, listen and try to find the meaning in what is being said. Repeat what was said, if it helps to clarify the thought.
- Avoid arguing
If the person says something you don’t agree with, let it be. Arguing usually only makes things worse.
- Offer a guess
If the person uses the wrong word or cannot find a word, try guessing the right one. If you understand what the person means, you may not need to give the correct word. Be careful not to cause unnecessary frustration.
- Encourage unspoken communication
If you don’t understand what is being said, ask the person to point or gesture.
- Limit distractions
Find a place that’s quiet, so you won’t be interrupted. The surroundings should support the person’s ability to focus on his or her thoughts.
- Focus on the feelings, not the facts
Sometimes the emotions being expressed are more important than what is being said. Look for the feeling behind the words. At times, tone of voice and other actions may provide clues.
To contact ElderCare at Home
If you or someone else you know would like more information, you can call us at (888) 285-0093 or email us below. Thanks for joining us today and we’ll see you again next week!