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The “Dementia Care Connection” series is organized by the UAMS Center on Aging-Northeast in Jonesboro, a program that’s part of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging.
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UAMS Dementia-Care Lecture Looks at Ways to Improve Communication
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently held a virtual lecture to share strategies for communicating in ways that enhance the comfort and safety of people who are living with dementia.
The Feb. 11 lecture was the third in a four-part series titled “The Dementia Care Connection: Insights for Families and Frontlines,” which provides health care professionals, caregivers, and community members with real-world strategies for supporting people who are living with memory loss. The series is organized by the UAMS Center on Aging-Northeast in Jonesboro, a program that’s part of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging.
Brandi Schneider, LMSW, director of aging and administrative services at the UAMS Schmieding Center for Senior Health & Education in Springdale, and Jill Thompson, program director for the Arkansas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, served as guest speakers.
Schneider said factors such as word choice, tone of voice, rate of speech, and volume of delivery all have an impact on whether a person with dementia can process the message that a speaker is trying to convey.
“No matter how good you are at communicating with people with dementia, there are still times when it can be very challenging,” she said. “This takes a lot of practice.”
It’s also important to be cognizant of nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, posture, and touch, Schneider said. She noted that people living with dementia pick up on these cues when they’re interacting with someone who is impatient, upset, or angry.
“We want to avoid sending signals that will trigger negative reactions,” she said.
Schneider said that communicating with a person who has dementia means becoming a guest in that person’s world — even if they’re not mentally in the same space or time as our own. If someone believes they’re in a childhood home that they haven’t seen in decades, then trying to correct or argue with them will only lead to confusion and distress, she said.
On the other hand, validating their thoughts and emotions will make them feel more comfortable in their environment and allow them to better connect with the people around them, she said.
Schneider offered several tips for improving communication with those who are living with dementia, including:
- Reintroducing yourself at the start of each new encounter.
- Minimizing distractions and noise.
- Allowing enough time for the person to process and respond to your words.
- Speaking with simple words, short sentences, and a calm voice.
Thompson followed Schneider’s presentation by describing how changes in behavior can serve as a form of communication. She said there are many factors that can trigger these changes, including pain or discomfort, social and environmental stressors, or personal feelings that they’re having trouble expressing.
“When someone is displaying anxiety or anger, it’s like an alarm that shows you there is a need that has to be addressed,” she said. “As caregivers, it’s our responsibility to connect with the person and find out what they’re telling us through their behavior.”
Thompson said caregivers should use what they know about the patient to understand what is causing these changes in behavior. Once those triggers have been identified, she said, the caregivers can meet the person’s physical and emotional needs as well as offer them comfort, letting them know that they don’t have to face these challenges on their own.
The final lecture in “The Dementia Care Connection” series, scheduled for June 10, will focus on “The Dementia Journey: Where to Turn for Help and Support.” Those who are interested in attending the virtual lecture can register here.