Those who have witnessed dementia know how amazing some interactions can be and the brilliant stories and discussions that can occur. However, there is a darker side of dementia which can make the individual irritable and forgetful which can be frustrating for all involved. There are some techniques and ways of speaking to keep in mind to help not only you understand the individual but also for them to be able to communicate with you.

Our top tips:

1. Use the individuals name – this can be less patronising and makes them feel like themselves rather than feeling like a child. Sometimes when people refer to individuals as ‘sweetheart’ or ‘dear’ when not a familiar can be rude or inappropriate. It’s best to use their name when speaking to them for clarity and politeness.
2. Instead of using long drawn-out sentences try using short ones that are simpler for clear understanding. Too much information at one can be overwhelming for someone with dementia so simple clear sentences are the best to use.
3. Asking someone with dementia ‘Do you know me?’ can be confusing and cause distress. Try saying ‘Hello Mum how are you’. Referring to your relationship with the individual can help with recognition and help put the individual at ease.
4. Don’t ask them ‘What have you done today?’ as again this can be straining on their memory and upset them if they can’t remember. Try mentioning what you have done today as that gives them an opportunity to ask questions.
5. When dealing with repetitive questions try not to lose patience and abruptly mentioned that you have already told them something. Try taking a moment before answering and remain calm to re explain what you need to tell them. It’s not their fault they can’t remember your previous conversation.

We hope these tips help you when trying to communicate with someone who has dementia. This is just a simple guide as dementia is different with each person and they can have different triggers that can cause distress. It’s important to take your time to learn how the individual communicates and how they prefer to be spoken to. How an individual communicates may now be very different to how they were before dementia, and this is one of the hardest changes for relatives to deal with. It’s an ongoing process and could possibly change at any time, if patience is kept in mind, then the hurdles will become easier to overcome.