What are some factors, challenges, and strategies for communication with patients that have dementia?
Answer
Most of our communication is nonverbal. Our verbal communication is only about 7% of what we communicate. Everything else is body language, pitch, tone, sentence structure, loudness, facial expressions, and even silence.
Factors Affecting Communication
Family/staff stress and frustration
Environment
Time
Distractions in the environment
Medications
As dementia progresses, the ability to correctly interpret communication decreases
Depression and anxiety
Challenges in Communication
Word-finding difficulty
Repetition
Unable to read or understand written communication
They may revert back to their native language
They may lose their ability to speak in sentences
Loss of the ability to understand
Unable to use words
Communication Strategies
So what can you do? Communication strategies include:
Avoid arguing and reasoning.
Ask those closed-ended questions or something that we all forced choice. So instead of saying, hey, what do you wanna do today, you can say, would you like to walk outside, or would you like to walk over here, so giving them a choice.
Observe the nonverbals.
Give them time to respond. Oftentimes we rush them.
Speak slowly, clearly, audibly
Be ready to repeat
Use short sentences
Use their name
Use gestures/visual cues
Use adult language
Avoid shouting
Be an active listener
Use eye contact.
Use touch.
Do all of those things so that the person knows you are talking to them, you are communicating with them, and then they'll be an active communication partner right back to you.
Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS
In her 30+ years of practice, Dr. Kathleen Weissberg has worked in rehabilitation and long-term care as an executive, researcher, and educator. She has established numerous programs in nursing facilities; authored peer-reviewed publications on topics such as low vision, dementia quality care, and wellness; and has spoken at national and international conferences. She provides continuing education support to over 40,000 individuals nationwide as National Director of Education for Select Rehabilitation. She is a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner, a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Practitioner, and a Certified Fall Prevention Specialist. She serves as the Region 1 Director for the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee and adjunct professor at Gannon University in Erie, PA.
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