Dementia affects everyone differently and can gradually diminish a person’s ability to communicate effectively. As a result, communicating with a loved one who has dementia requires compassion, patience, and good listening skills. In addition to receiving assistance from a home care agency, it is equally important to learn how to communicate effectively.
As a trusted provider of home health care in Maryland, we will share simple but effective tips to help ease communication:
- Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor.A loved one with dementia can pick up on emotions, including changes in one’s tone of voice. Maintaining a warm and friendly demeanor can increase your chances of success and shows how much you care. Using positive language and non-verbal cues can also encourage a response.
- Reduce distractions before speaking.Before interacting with a loved one with dementia, be sure to remove distractions first. Kids running around, an open window, or a television that is turned on can be distracting and make it more difficult to communicate. Before speaking, observe the environment first to capture your loved one’s attention.
- Identify yourself and your relationship.A person with dementia may not always remember who you are to them. Hence, gently let them know your name and how you are related. Doing so can help bring back memories, reduce confusion, and help your loved one feel safe.
Sarah’s Peace and Love Home Healthcare is an agency specializing in home care services in Laurel, Maryland. We serve all segments of the population, including older adults. We offer personal care, companionship, respite, and more to meet your needs. To arrange home care for a family member, feel free to give us a call.
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