Conversing with People with Dementia

The video below shows how to converse with a person with dementia (time: 2 minutes).

When conversing with someone with Alzheimer’s disease or any other kind of dementia, it might be difficult to know where to start. Dementia patients suffer memory loss,  an inability to control impulses, and difficulty controlling emotions, which can make conversing with them a challenge. However, with the following tips, you will be able to more easily navigate a conversation with an individual with dementia.

To start with, take the conversation slowly and don’t try to control it. If the dementia patient says something that isn’t accurate, don’t point it out, don’t correct them, and certainly don’t argue. Also, don’t talk to them about something new if what you are saying may not be true, or is just a hypothetical situation.

In your conversation, make it a habit to use words and phrases that are familiar to the individual. For example, if you have often heard the person refer to his or her pants as britches, do the same.

Use items that are placed around the room to help direct the conversation. For example, if you see a framed photograph of the individual, ask about the photo. This also gives the dementia patient a great visual to go along with the conversation.

Make yourself familiar with the individual, as the more you know about the person, the easier it will be to engage in a discussion. Know who they were before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, what they did for a living, what they considered important, and what they like. For example, if you know the individual loved running or sewing, ask them about this activity.

Expect to repetitively have the same dialogues, as an individual with dementia has limited memory. It may get frustrating, but keep in mind the individual is simply trying to communicate with you.

Appear engaged in the conversation, because if you don’t, the dementia patient will be able to tell. This will result in a negative experience for the individual and the conversation will end.

Don’t be surprised if strong emotions result in an emotional outburst (crying, laughing, etc.) by the individual with dementia. It can be difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s disease to maintain control over their emotions.