Communication is an everyday parameter that everybody relies upon as part of a defined living. Be it through signs or verbal approach, the most crucial aspect is driving the point across and having the target audience access that information rightfully. The case with persons living with dementia is, however, different. A person living with dementia has a progressive state that makes it hard to understand essential communication and facts like places, names, and dates (Welsh et al. 2018). With time, dementia may develop to a critical stage where the patient develops weaker processing of the dispersed information and hence take a longer time to respond. Whereas this disorder may make it difficult to communicate, there are various tips through which it is easier to liaise with persons living with dementia.
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Use of their preferred titles and names
Addressing persons living with dementia by their names creates a sense of inclusivity. Names create an assurance of total recon ignition in communication and make the person being addressed tap the information quickly. A person with dementia enjoys the extra affection that lures them to feel engaged and hooked to the communication.
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Use of gentle touch to seek attention
After always calling the persons by names, helping keep them as part of the communication is a positive step that is attainable using soft touch that reminds the person to stick to the conversation (Cruz-Sandoval & Favela, 2019). A soft touch is an applicable approach that may keep a person living with dementia engaged in a conversation for a reasonable period.
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Positioning to their level during communication
A more respectful and comfortable conversation is cultivated through communicating at the same level. In that case, a person living with dementia will feel engaged and part of the conversation. It is also an ideal position that may guarantee the other party that the communication is transparent, and they should feel part and parcel of the same.
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Maintaining eye contact and smiling
It is undoubtedly ideal to ensure the listening party is part of the conversation. Communication is a two-way traffic that demands the input of both the speaker and the audience. People living with dementia are best engaged with genuine smiles and contacts that will encourage them to contribute their views confidently.
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Avoiding the figure of speech and slang during the conversation
A person living with dementia will easily understand a straightforward conversation that will not involve slang language. Figures of speech may equally complicate the conversation and make it harder to understand the message put across. It is, therefore, crucial to consider the fact that a straightforward talk will keep the listener engaged.
Other tips may involve avoiding integration and not ignoring the person during the conversation. In essence, a person living with dementia has difficulty in getting the intended conversation either due to fast memory loss or lack of understanding of what may seem straightforward. Whereas the communication process may be technical, there are various tips, as mentioned in the discussion above that may keep the persons living with dementia part and parcel of the communication.
