Learning how to talk to a parent with dementia can feel like you are speaking a new language. Let’s call it ‘dementia speak.’

When it comes to communication, the belief is that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words. At Aware Senior Care, we believe this wholeheartedly. If you have received formal dementia training by educators such as Teepa Snow, you’d know that movements and facial expressions are critical.

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Leveraging information from our friends at the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, below are some tips on how to connect and communicate with someone with dementia:

  • Approach from the FRONT respecting personal space
    • Move SLOWLY in a non-threatening manner
      • Make EYE Contact
        • Initiate the greeting & introduce yourself
          • Move to the SIDE and OFFER YOUR HAND
            • Wait for their response
              • Make POSITIVE STATEMENTS: “Let’s try…” “Could you please help with…”

                Additionally, here are helpful ways to talk with someone with dementia:

                • Greet the person before moving into action
                  • Explain what is happening but keep it simple
                    • Offer simple choices instead of asking yes/no questions
                      • Break the task down into single one at a time steps
                        • Give the person time, don’t rush
                          • Respect personal space
                            • Don’t argue or correct

                              The advice above is proven and will help. However, recognize your daily communication plan can vary depending on your loved one’s capabilities that day.

                              It’s not uncommon for sun-downers to cause your loved one to be irritable and angry. It’s also not uncommon if one day your loved one seems very cognizant and “with it” and the next day forgets the names of your children. Be ready to intelligently improvise.

                              Gina Murray, RN BSN and Tim Murray, her husband and Navy Veteran are the founders and owners of Aware Senior Care, a family-owned business in Cary, providing award-winning, in-home companion care, personal care and nursing services to seniors and those who are disabled or chronically ill. Tim and Gina put together the Dementia planning guide based on the experiences with Dementia care within their family and their agency.