Unraveling Alzheimer's: The Do's and Don'ts of Communication

This is the second part of our Unraveling Alzheimer's blog series, a series of posts where we discuss the Alzheimer's disease process, treatment, and support.

Alzheimer's disease can make communication difficult for the person with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. This post covers how Alzheimer's can change how a person communicates and discusses interventions to help support communication.

How does Alzheimer's affect communication?

Individuals with Alzheimer's disease may struggle with finding the right words, understanding what words mean, paying attention during conversations, organizing words logically, keeping their train of thought, and blocking out background noises. They may also confuse language. For example, if the person speaks Spanish as a primary language, they may forget how to speak and understand English.

Since Alzheimer's disease is being diagnosed earlier than in the past, it is important to understand that many people are aware of how the disease is affecting their memory. This may make them feel anxious or upset, take time to listen because they may want to talk about the changes they are noticing. It is important to be open, empathetic, and nonjudgmental.

It is also important to be aware of nonverbal communication. As people lose their ability to communicate verbally, they may rely on other ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings. For example, they may suddenly lash out in sadness, anger or frustration.

The Do's of Communicating with a Person Who Has Alzheimer's Disease.

It is important to keep the following suggestions in mind to make communication easier:

Make eye contact and call the person by name.
Be aware of your tone, volume, facial expression and body language. Show a warm, loving, and matter-of-fact manner.
Encourage a two-way conversation if the person is able.
Be open to the person's concern, even if they are hard to understand or address.
Be patient with angry outbursts. Try distraction, like offering a favorite snack or a walk outside. If you are becoming frustrated, take time to calm down.
Use methods other than speaking to help the person, such as gentle touching to guide them. Hold their hand while you talk.

When speaking to a person with Alzheimer's, try to ask questions with a yes or no answer. If the person doesn't understand you the first time, try rephrasing what you said with different words. In some cases, it is best to avoid open-ended questions such as "What do you want for dinner?" and instead present clear choices such as, "Do you want fish or chicken for dinner?"

The Don'ts of Communicating with a Person Who Has Alzheimer's Disease

The changes in communication that come with Alzheimer's disease can be particularly challenging to handle. Although there is no one-size fits all approach to communication strategies, here are some communication patterns to avoid:

Do not talk about the person as if they are not there.
Do not talk to the person using "baby talk" or a "baby voice."
Do not exclude the person from conversations.
Do not speak with an angry or tense tone.
Do not interrupt or argue with the person.
Do not ask the person whether the remember something or someone.

By avoiding those common mistakes of communication, it is possible to avoid distressing or further agitating the person with Alzheimer's disease.

It is okay to feel overwhelmed.

Caregiving is rewarding, but it can also be demanding, difficult and stressful. These communication changes can be challenging. Do not forget to take time to care for yourself. If the challenge is damaging your physical or mental health, it may be time to consider other options. Trinity Healthcare Services offers two locations that provides high-quality long-term care for individuals that have Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, our staff are trained in communication strategies to ensure your loved one's wellbeing. There are other options if you are not willing to pursue long-term care at this time as well as other long-term care options, visit CMS.gov for more information. You may also want to view the resources available from the National Institute on Aging at nia.nih.gov.

Stay tuned for our next post in our Unraveling Alzheimer's series, Managing Personality and Behavior Changes.

Information provided by the National Institute on Aging. Content last reviewed July 11, 2024. Provided for general informational and promotional purposes only. This information is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this website is not intended to create any physician–patient relationship, nor should it be considered a replacement for consultation with a healthcare professional. If, and to the extent that you choose to rely upon any information presented on this site, you do so voluntarily and solely at your own risk.