6 Must-Know Tips On How To Talk To A Parent With Dementia

There is no getting around the fact that relationships are built on communication.

The manner in which individuals act, communicate, and listen to one another determines how they bond and interact to one another.

Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's disease or another kind of dementia, you can occasionally find it difficult to discern what their true needs or wants are. Changes in the interpersonal dynamic, speech impediments, and memory issues can all have an effect.

In order to help you keep the quality of communication with your parent as high as possible, we've put up a list of suggestions on how to communicate to a parent who has dementia.

The article discusses 6 must-know tips on how to talk to a parent with dementia.

Set Achievable Goals

In actuality, dementia, like Alzheimer's disease progress over time. It makes sense to be ready when symptoms worsen over time. As time passes, your relationship with your loved one may change, too. If you have been talking with them in a specific way for many years, this may seem strange at first, but that is the nature of the situation.

Having reasonable expectations might lessen the likelihood of disappointment or annoyance. For your talks, try to create concrete objectives. Sometimes the best place to start is to keep things short and sweet!

Don’t Ask Open-Ended Questions

If your parent has trouble finding the right words, asking simple "yes" or "no" (or "this" or "that") inquiries might lessen cognitive load. Additionally, this kind of query might shorten the time you would have to wait for a response and improve the flow of talks. Someone with dementia can find it simpler to respond to a question like "Is it cold today?" than to one like "What's the weather like today?"

Reduce Background Noises

We are all aware of how very irritating noises like vehicle alarms, dogs barking, and loud snoring can be. Even minor noises might be difficult for those with dementia to deal with. Additionally, it could be stressful to hear noises coming from multiple angles. Make careful to mute or turn off any background noises like the radio or TV if you find that your loved one is easily distracted during chats.

Be Specific

When addressing your parent in a social setting or at a family gathering, try to avoid using pronouns like "he," "she," or "them." It's preferable to be particular and use your loved one's favorite name, since they will be most familiar with this, for the purpose of clarity.

Supplement With Non-Verbal Cues

"A picture is worth 1,000 words," they say. Certainly, we have all heard this adage before. Additionally, it's pertinent to the discussion of dementia communication tactics. The language centers of the brain can be more severely impacted by some dementia types than others.

These brain abnormalities might lead to a disorder known as aphasia. For instance, primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a kind of frontotemporal dementia, can make it more challenging to understand and produce speech. Nonverbal cues like hand gestures and facial expressions are excellent ways to enhance your verbal communication if your loved one occasionally has trouble understanding what you're saying.

Hold Hands

Holding hands might be one of the finest nonverbal communication techniques to use if you and your parent feel comfortable doing so. It can give a sense of comfort and connection in addition to relieving the need to fill the quiet with dialogue.