10 Ways to Connect With a Loved One With Dementia

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” — Nat Turner, slave rebellion leader

If you are one of the 16 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. who cares for someone with dementia, crossing the bridge between confusion and clarity can be quite a challenge. As a speech-language pathologist at North Kansas City Hospital, my job is to facilitate opportunities for communication between a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s and their loved ones.

How to Communicate With Someone With Dementia

When you struggle to create meaningful connections, remember these 10 strategies:

1. Avoid distractions, and move to a quiet place without background noise
2. Avoid over-correcting, putting down or arguing with your loved one; it’s OK to let delusions and incorrect statements go
3. Continue laughing and sharing jokes together
4. Express your caring through touch, sound, sight, taste and smell (the five senses); a hand rub with scented lotion or a favorite song can be a way to communicate, even if your loved one is nonverbal
5. Focus on feelings, not facts; use open-ended questions that access your loved one’s general knowledge of the world
6. Go slow; talk about one thing at a time, and allow plenty of time to respond
7. Include your loved one in conversations, and help them get involved in activities outside the home; check out the Alzheimer’s Association for ideas
8. Journey to the past; remembering events from the distant past is typically a strength of those with dementia and can be a soothing and affirming activity
9. Offer choices to help your loved one make decisions; try: “Do you want meatloaf or pasta for dinner?” verses “What do you want for dinner?”
10. Talk to your loved one respectfully, clearly and calmly; avoid baby talk

It is never too late to build the bridge of communication that will help both you and your loved one lead a happier life.

NKCH Dementia and Alzheimer’s Resources

The neurologists at Meritas Health Neurology can help diagnosis dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions. Speech and language therapy may be part of the treatment plan. Our Outpatient Rehabilitation Services department has therapists who are specially trained to treat people with dementia.

Watch Stephanie talk about making homes dementia friendly by identifying possible dangers and easy solutions to give yourself peace of mind.

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Stephanie Ramirez

Stephanie Ramirez, MA, CCC-SLP, CDCS, is a speech-language pathologist at North Kansas City Hospital. She primarily works in the outpatient setting. She is also a certified dementia care specialist. When she’s not helping patients, she serves as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, conducting training and education.