If your loved one has dementia, you’ve probably learned that you need to talk to them differently than you did before. Keeping their best interests at heart is an important part of elderly care, and conversations with your older loved one will improve over time if you work at it. Here are a few tips for conversing with them.

How to Talk to Someone With Dementia

1. Avoid Distractions

Dementia makes people more likely to get distracted by other stimuli during a conversation. If you need to talk to them about something important or simply want to have a chat with them, remove distractions. Go somewhere private, where other people won’t interrupt. Turn off the TV and shut the door so that you can get their full attention.

2. Ask About the Distant Past

Most elderly care specialists will tell you that people with dementia can’t remember details from a day or even an hour ago. Therefore, it can be frustrating if you ask your loved one questions about what they did the night before or what they had for breakfast.

Instead, focus the conversation around their life back when they were younger. They’re much more likely to remember these details and can tell you stories.

3. Be Clear

It may be hard for your loved one to follow what you’re saying. A part of elderly care is speaking in a way that makes it easier for them to understand.

Talk at a normal volume, but make sure to enunciate. Don’t use baby talk or yell. Avoid using pronouns to talk about people; using their names makes it easier for your loved one to remember who you’re talking about.

4. Be Positive

Enter your loved one’s room with a positive attitude. Use a pleasant tone, smile, and don’t be afraid to reassuringly touch their shoulder or hold their hand. People dealing with dementia can get sad or frustrated, but do your best to move the conversation back to a positive place before you leave.

If your loved one with dementia needs help at home, call the compassionate caregivers at Visiting Angels in Toms River, NJ. Their caregivers are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and provide in-home elderly care across Ocean County and Monmouth County. They can work on an hourly, daily, or live-in basis, and can provide services like companionship, meal preparation, housekeeping, and dementia care. Visit their website or call (732) 240-1050 to learn more.