Effective Dementia Communication
Providing care for someone LIVING with Alzheimer’s disease or a related Dementia takes substantial effort and the ability to communicate effectively.
“Good Morning Mary” I smile as I extend my hand. Mary gingerly accepts it with a quizzical look on her face. “Do you know me?” she asks.
“I sure do, you are my friend.”
Mary sighs and squeezes my hand. “Yes I am” she smiles back. “Yes, I am your friend.” Mary is LIVING with Alzheimer’s disease.
When You Hear Your Name
Hearing your name is powerful. It’s a connection. It feels familiar.
When someone refers to you by name, don’t you respond more positively? Doesn’t it feel good to be acknowledged by name?
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and/or other related Dementias struggle with their fading memories. Old and new information becomes jumbled and confusing while portions of the brain begin to shrink. This cognitive decline is often described as; last-in-is-first-out.
Which often means; the last information learned, tends to be the first to disappear. It is why loss of short-term memory often appears after diagnosis. New memories aren’t retained, yet recollections from decades earlier remain crystal clear. Eventually even the old information and memories will become cloudy.
However, recognizing your name seems to stay intact until the very end.
From Birth
Think about it. When a child is born a name is given. Immediately everyone in the child’s world begins to use that name while cuddling and snuggling with the newborn.
The name is used and reinforced as the child grows. Knowing your name and responding to it, is an instinct.
Remember the television sitcom Cheers? Their catchy opening song summed it up; 🎶 “Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name…” 🎶
Why? Because it feels good to be surrounded by people who know you and your name.
Find Ways to Use Their Name
🔸While providing care, gently call their name
🔸Get their attention by using their name
🔸Make them feel comfortable by using their name
🔸Extend your hand in greeting, while speaking their name.
What’s in a Name?
A familiar comfort, that’s for sure. Use it often! It’s a fabulous caregiving communication technique that feels good to the receiver.
