The Benefits of Effective Communication with a Dementia Patient

The benefits of effective communication with a dementia patient, or someone with Alzheimer's or a related illness, has as many benefits to the caregiver as to the patient. The development of communication skills with someone with dementia takes time and skill, but it can solve a host of other related problems. Ultimately, the main virtue here is patience--keep calm, and the process will show fruit very soon. The best approaches to improving communication with a dementia patient are to remain calm at all times, keep your voice low, and show no signs of agitation since this can frustrate the patient.

Reduces Frustration

• Effective communication can eliminate many of the patient's negative reactions and lead to a smoother relationship between patient an caregiver. Writers in this field worry quite a bit about what is called the "catastrophic reaction." This is the often wild or violent overreaction to a frustrating problem when confronted by a dementia patient. It is often accompanied by cursing and tears, even threats by the patient. These reactions are often caused by the patient who feels she is not being understood.

Helps with Understanding

• When a dementia patient forgets the simplest instructions or cannot think of the right word to complete a sentence, the caregiver must use other signals. The caregiver can point to an object, use humor to paper over a potentially stressful situation and show physical affection (like hand holding) to display their supportive attitude. Caregivers should do this even when the caregiver is feeling frustrated and impatient. These strategies lead to close connections between patient and caregiver, and provide the patient with a sense that he is loved, understood and not a burden. Dementia communication can bring patient and caregiver together in a powerful bond of love if done properly.

Encourages Honesty

• One strategy that dementia patients will use once they realize that their memory is going is the attempt to conceal their problems. This leads to shame in the patient as they continually try to cover up their worsening problem. Therefore, the continual improvement of communications skills between patient and caregiver lessens the necessity for this embarrassing attempt to conceal the problem. This can only improve the patient-caregiver relationship and improve the mental state of the patient.