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How Dementia / Alzheimer’s Affects Communication and Tips to Help Caregivers

Last Updated: May 25, 2022

 

 “My sick father says the wrong words and can barely understand when I’m speaking, so we both get angry and I know I’ve failed another test for caregiving. It’s too difficult sometimes. How do we talk to each other?”

What is communication? It is the interchange of ideas or information with someone else. Communication is how we maintain our relationships. When dementia robs the ability to speak and understand, it can strain the bonds between caregivers and their loved ones.

If two people can’t talk, how do they get along? Here we will define and understand the problem, and explain some solutions. Planning a strategy to communicate is crucial in maintaining personal connections and in becoming a better caregiver.

 

How Dementia Affects Communication

As Alzheimer’s and dementia destroys brain cells, patients can experience a symptom called aphasia. This means losing the ability to speak and to understand speech. Aphasia worsens as the disease progresses. It becomes harder to remember the right words and process what others are saying. Difficulty speaking is one of the first noticeable signs of people with Alzheimer’s especially those with Frontotemporal dementia.

Dementia takes years to advance through its stages causing symptoms to worsen at each subsequent phase. In the early stages, someone can carry on normal conversations but will forget a word or use the wrong words. Consequently, resuming a conversation after an interruption becomes difficult. These communication hiccups happen all the time to most people. Unfortunately, dementia affects the brain so that language problems become more noticeable. For example, someone with Alzheimer’s won’t remember phrases or be able to learn new ones. Slang and common expressions become hard and impossible to remember. Someone with dementia may start confusing the meaning of words. They might say “I want worms for dinner” instead of asking for a favorite meal or calling a computer “the picture”. Another common problem is the difficulty people with dementia have to think about multiple ideas at once; they may jump from topic to topic without completing a coherent sentence.

Additionally, the ability to understand is affected. Words coming into a brain with Alzheimer’s are just as confusing as to what’s going out. If someone speaks quickly (or in a high-pitched voice, has an accent, or uses complex speech) a person with dementia will probably struggle to follow along.

 Did You Know? There are free resources available to persons with dementia and their family members.
Help finding memory care communities that meet your requirements.
Help finding in-home care with dementia training.
Medicaid eligibility test and free consult on qualifying.

 

Loss of Communication by Stages of the Disease

Loss of communication skills is different for each type of dementia and also varies by patient. Below is a general guideline of what to expect in the different stages of dementia:

Loss of Communication Skills Through the Stages of Dementia
Early dementia / Alzheimer’s Some difficulty concentrating and following conversation; difficulty finding the right words when speaking or writing; losing train of thought when speaking; repeating oneself. Usually the person with dementia is aware of these problems and may try to hide or overcompensate for them.
Moderate or mid-stage dementia / Alzheimer’s Difficulty following along with group and one-on-one conversations; losing train of thought when speaking; increased difficulty finding the right words when speaking or writing; loss of vocabulary, like proper nouns and slang terms; substituting words that sound the same or inventing new words; difficulty following storylines in books, TV shows, or movies; difficulty following directions; poor recall when telling others about recent events; increased use of gestures to communicate.
Severe or late-stage dementia / Alzheimer’s Inability to follow along with anything other than simple conversations and instructions; increased loss of vocabulary, including personal information and loved ones’ names; inability to follow storylines in books, TV shows, or movies; tendency to talk about nothing, rambling, or babbling.
End-stage dementia / Alzheimer’s Inability to speak or otherwise respond verbally; difficulty or inability to understand when spoken to; all communication may be non-verbal.

 

Understanding Communication Problems

Communication is how we understand and how we are understood by others. The loss of the ability to speak or process speech correctly is a devastating symptom for someone with dementia. Worse, the breakdown of speech can strain the relationship between you, as the caregiver, and your loved one. Caregiving is emotional and difficult and can cause the phenomenon caregiver stress.

Caring for a loved one with dementia requires patience, strong listening skills, planning, and flexibility. Confusion and misunderstandings are common and can lead to frustrations for the caregiver as well as your loved one. Understanding and positivity are vital in all facets of caregiving, but especially with communication being a challenge.

What follows are tips and strategies for maintaining communication with your loved one, even as it becomes harder over time. Try, above all, to be kind, and remember that they may not know what they’re saying, but you do.

  Studies have shown that using pictures (on a mobile device or picture board) can help communication after speech becomes difficult. Letting your loved one point to pictures of common items – like a light bulb or cold drink or someone who is yawning so obviously sleepy – is an effective way to express needs.   

 

Solutions to Communicate with Persons with Dementia

Coping with Speech Problems

Speak the Language
People with dementia have been known to revert to their first language as they lose the ability to speak. If your loved one grew up speaking a different language, prepare to speak as much of it as you can.

Sing Along
People with dementia remember songs, because music and melodies are stored in a part of their brain unaffected by the disease. Singing, therefore, is a way to connect. Listening to favorite albums together can also be useful. (For more on how music helps with Alzheimer’s disease, click here.)

Minimize Distractions
Turn the radio or television off, and remove things from sight that are distracting. If possible, sit down face-to-face in a quiet, calm place.

The Approach
If they don’t see you coming, engaging someone with dementia can elicit anxiety or aggression. Approach from the front to allow time to process.

Announce Yourself
Identify yourself before starting a conversation, and refer to the person by name. This gets attention and awareness, and reminds your loved one who you are.

 

Talking to Someone with Dementia

Anticipate Mix-Ups
As soon as your loved one starts speaking, listen carefully and anticipate which words may be mixed up, so you can help find the right word without overcorrecting.

Annunciate
Particularly in the early stages, problems understanding can be helped by simply speaking slowly, with proper pronunciation and grammar.

One at a Time
Because people with dementia have problems with multiple thoughts at once, focus on one idea or short story at a time.

Stay Simple
Use basic language and keep anecdotes and stories brief. Discuss one topic at a time. Avoid slang, nicknames, and idioms. Only use simple explanations, and avoid logic and reasoning beyond the very basic.

  How you phrase a question can make a huge difference. Asking “Yes” or “No” questions or giving a simple choice is better than open-ended questions. “Do you want chicken for dinner?” or “Chicken or steak for dinner?” is better than “What would you like for dinner?”

No Tests
Reminiscing can be healthy, but avoid asking, “Do you remember when…?”

No Baby Talk
Don’t speak in cutesy voices, or in a way that could make your loved one feel minimized. “Baby talk” is for babies.

Positively Speaking
Use positive, rather than negative, expression. For example, instead of “Not like that” say “Try it this way.”

Relax
Stay relaxed to keep the person with dementia relaxed and comfortable. Use positive body language and gestures. Maintain good eye contact.

 

Listening to Someone with Dementia

Be Patient
Someone with dementia may need time to find the right word. Let your loved one think and speak without interrupting. Expressing impatience or frustration will cause more frustration.

Say Again
It’s okay to repeat information and questions. If your loved one doesn’t respond, wait a moment and ask again.

Embolden
Encouraging someone to take time could give a boost in confidence. Try saying, “It’s important to me to hear what you have to say. Just take your time.”

Be Agreeable
Arguing with someone who has dementia is pointless and counterproductive. Even if you disagree, be agreeable and just change the subject. Also, don’t point out when words or names are used incorrectly; just go with it.

Be Creative
If you don’t understand, try guessing what your loved one is saying, or ask them to point or gesture. Focus more on the overall message than the literal words being spoken. Reading body language and emotions can be useful.

 

Going Beyond Words

Communicating with hand gestures, body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and touch will be increasingly important as dementia progresses. Try the following:

Reinforcement
If you ask your loved one about eating something, point to the refrigerator or pantry to reinforce the message.

Nod For Yes
Express agreement or disagreement by nodding “Yes” or shaking your head “No,” even as you’re saying these words.

Better Than Words
If you can say something without actually saying it, do so. A warm smile can be a huge message conveyed just as strongly as words.