If you have a loved one with dementia, there are several steps you can take to get them the treatment and care they need, from finding an assisted living facility to providing regular interaction. Communicating with a person who has dementia can be difficult if you’re unsure what to expect. The following four tips may assist you in communicating effectively with your loved one with dementia.

Communication Tips if Your Loved One Has Dementia

1. Don’t Talk Down to Them

While dementia is a condition that impacts a person’s cognitive function, you don’t want to speak down to or infantilize the conversations you have with your loved one. The stages of dementia will vary significantly, from a minute decline in memory to struggling to recall past or recent events. Speaking to your loved one in an adult and respectful tone will help them reconnect and feel like themselves.

2. Provide Regular Contact

Regular communication is essential to helping your loved one with dementia keep their cognitive skills sharpened. If your loved one is in an assisted living facility, consider planning regular, weekly visits to offer another source of interaction. You should also talk to the staff at the assisted living facility about the best days or times to visit with your loved one.

3. Use Names in Conversation

When talking to your loved one with dementia about a relative or family friend, always use full or familiar names as opposed to pronouns like “he” or “she.” Keeping track of which person you’re referring to will become confusing without proper names.

4. Have Patience

Individuals with dementia will go through both good and bad days. The primary thing is to remain patient with your loved one and to continue offering regular interaction. On days that are more difficult than others don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if they didn’t understand you the first time.

Abbington Assisted Living is proud to serve seniors throughout Columbus, Pickerington, Powell, Chillicothe, and Coshocton, Ohio. Abbington senior living communities are one-story buildings designed with comfort and security in mind, offering comprehensive assisted living services in a compassionate, comfortable, and cost-effective manner.  Please visit our website or call us directly to schedule a tour: Arlington/Columbus (614) 451-4575; Pickerington (614) 577-0822; Powell (614) 789-9868; Chillicothe (740) 773-4630; Coshocton (740) 623-4600.