Communication is one of the first areas to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Impaired communication is a primary source of frustration and resulting anger. Here are some tips on AD and effective communications. You can never have enough training in Alzheimer’s disease. It is too easy for us to forget the fantastic techniques for communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that we learned in training classes. Be willing to obtain training (or re-training) as often as possible. You never know when a trainer might say something that can change your communication skills forever!

Give them enough time to process what you are saying

We live in a fast-paced life on an information superhighway, and the individual with AD doesn’t and probably never has! Frequently, their lives are anything but fast. You are the one who can be flexible in your communication skills, so do it their way, and slow down both your talking speed and your response expectation rate.

Alzheimer’s “strips” away the individual’s ability to visualize what you are saying

They require concrete communication - Our communication style must eliminate communication that relies on the ability to conceptualize. Rather, we should use simple, basic methods of communication such as we use for toddlers when they are developing communication skills. The concepts relayed with words such as, “awhile” or “soon” have no meaning for either the toddler or the AD resident and results in frustration for all

Focus on feelings not facts

Facts, particularly recent history, are frequently lost to those with AD. The focus should then be on the feelings that are being communicated. Validate the individual with responses such as, “And that made you frustrated,” or “you were sad, then, weren’t you?”. This allows the person with AD to own emotions without judgment. In the latter stages of the disease, emotions are all the person is left with to use as communication.

Face the individual and get eye level

Let them take advantage of your facial expressions and the movement of your mouth when you speak. Not only does this convey dignity and respect, but it also allows the other person the advantage of facial movements. Remember: only 10% of communication is words; the rest is body language, facial gestures, eye contact, voice inflection and word speed.

Dignity and Respect should always be conveyed

This should go without saying, but I have heard too many people speaking to AD residents with impaired communications as if they were children. These people are child like in their skills (abilities are digressing not progressing), but they are not children. Patronizing must be avoided.
Dignity and Respect should
always be conveyed.

Accept correction from others with grace

Here we go back to being humans and making mistakes. But the truth of it is this: you are human and you will make mistakes when communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. And when you do, allow your team to correct you if needed. A correction in kindness should be accepted with grace. Thank them for helping you be a better health care provider.

They want you to treat them and not the disease

This was a message conveyed by a group of high functioning AD residents who were requested to develop a list of considerations they wanted to share with care givers. They knew the disease was making them think and act differently than they used to, but they still wanted to be seen for the individuals they were, and not for the disease they had.

Allow yourself the right to make mistakes

Don’t be hard on yourself when you make a mistake. Committing a mistake does not define your character; rather, it is the manner in which you correct the mistake that does.

Let them reminisce - use words they understand You might be able to, “get jiggy with it,” but your resident with impaired communication has no idea what that means! Find out about their background: the more you know about someone, the easier it is to talk with them.