Communicating With Dementia Patients

Dementia is a disorder that damages the brain cells. The affects of the disorder occur in stages over a period of years, beginning with short-term memory loss, eventually leading to an inability to properly care for one's self. It can cause hallucinations, violent behavior, and mood swings. To care for a dementia patient requires compassion and understanding, but above all, it requires patience.

Hospice physician Larry Hedgepath developed the following ‘pearls of wisdom’ for working with dementia patients, based on his experience as a doctor and a caregiver for his mother.

Educating yourself is vital if you are caring for a loved one at home. The more you know about dementia, its stages, and what to expect, the better equipped you will be to handle situations as they arise. Each dementia patient progresses through the disease differently and experiences different symptoms. Below are some suggestions for when communicating with dementia patients.

Distract, don’t confront:

When your patient starts talking about something completely ‘off the wall’ don’t correct him. For example, your patient is pacing the floor. You ask him what is wrong and he responds that he is waiting for his father to pick him up. Don’t say “Your father has been dead for 25 years.” He is operating in a different place and time. Instead ask where they are going when his father picks him up, and then ask him what they are going to do. Chances are that he will get so involved in his story that he will forget his original frustrations.

Demonstrate, don’t instruct:

Dementia patients, like children, retain their ability to imitate long after their comprehension is gone. If you want them to perform a simple task, go through the motions yourself, one step at a time, wait for them to perform that step, then demonstrate the next step. If you get frustrated and give up  and do the task yourself, they will sense your frustration and feel rejected. Reminders of their inability to please are a constant source of agitation. Praise their successes, because they want to please you, and say “Good job!”

One thing at a time:
Don’t give your patient a verbal list of things you are going to do during your visit. Tell them what you are going to do right now and subsequently tell them each thing you are going to do before you do it.

Tell, don’t ask:

Dementia patients recognize the inflection of your voice when you are asking a question. They respond with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but may not have a clue what the question was. Furthermore, they may not know the context of the question. For example, “Do you want to get dressed?” they may say no because they did not really understand the question, or they may be mentally at a different place and time where getting dressed may not be the thing to do. Instead say, “We are getting dressed now.”


Become a Hospice Volunteer

Want to have more meaning in your life? Do you want to do something that is satisfying and of great service to your community? Then become a Hospice volunteer!

Volunteers are needed for the Northern Virginia area such as Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Burke, Manassas, Lorton to name just a few to service families of the terminally ill. Becoming a hospice volunteer is similar to helping a neighbor in need.

The only qualification required is your desire to help someone in need. You don't need any medical skills; you don't even need a college degree; you don't even need to know what to say. All you need to do is sign-up for our hospice volunteer training session coming soon.

Call today at (703) 392-7100, ask for the Volunteer Coordinator, to find out more about the hospice volunteer opportunity.

You can make a difference!