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Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.
  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Facility
    • CEO Update
    • News
  • Our Programs
    • Emergency Medicine >
      • EMS Agency Update
      • Southern Tier EMT-B Academy
      • Paramedic Program
      • NYS Active Diversions
      • Current Provider Resources >
        • Education & Training
        • Annual Skills
        • Applications & Forms
        • PCR Request
        • Protocols
        • Public Access Defib
      • News & Notices
      • Safe Transport
      • PECC
      • SWREMS, WREMAC & BEMS
    • Safe Kids >
      • Safe Kids Events
    • Cribs for Kids
    • Overdose Prevention >
      • Report Narcan Use
      • Narcan Training
      • NY Matters >
        • Leave Behind Attestation
      • Drug Disposal Resources
    • Caregiver Navigation
    • Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner >
      • Become a SAFE Provider
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    • American Heart Association Training
    • Stop the Bleed
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  • Contact Us
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How to Effectively Communicate with a
Loved One with Dementia 


1. Recognize what you’re up against. Dementia inevitably gets worse with time. People with dementia will gradually have a more difficult time understanding others, as well as communicating in general.

2. Avoid distractions. Try to find a place and time to talk when there aren’t a lot of distractions present. This allows your loved one to focus all their mental energy on the conversation.

3. Speak clearly and naturally in a warm and calm voice. Refrain from ‘babytalk’ or any other kind of condescension.

4. Refer to people by their names. Avoid pronouns like “he,” “she,” and “they” during conversation. Names are also important when greeting a loved one with dementia. For example: “Hi, Grandma. It’s me, Jeff,” is to be preferred over, “Hi. It’s me.”

5. Talk about one thing at a time. Someone with dementia may not be able to engage in the mental juggling involved in maintaining a conversation with multiple threads.

6. Use nonverbal cues. For example, maintain eye contact and smile. This helps put your loved one at ease and will facilitate understanding. And when dementia is very advanced, nonverbal communication may be the only option available.

7. Listen actively. If you don’t understand something your loved one is telling you, politely let them know.
​
8. Don’t quibble. Your conversations are not likely to go very far if you try to correct every inaccurate statement your loved one makes. It’s okay to let delusions and misstatements go.

9. Have patience. Give your loved one extra time to process what you say. If you ask a question, give a moment to respond. Don’t let frustration get the better of you.

10. Understand there will be good days and bad days. While the general trend of dementia sufferers is a downward decline, people with dementia will have ups and downs just like anyone else. 
© 2021 Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 
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Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.
​150 North Union Street, Olean, NY 14760

  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Facility
    • CEO Update
    • News
  • Our Programs
    • Emergency Medicine >
      • EMS Agency Update
      • Southern Tier EMT-B Academy
      • Paramedic Program
      • NYS Active Diversions
      • Current Provider Resources >
        • Education & Training
        • Annual Skills
        • Applications & Forms
        • PCR Request
        • Protocols
        • Public Access Defib
      • News & Notices
      • Safe Transport
      • PECC
      • SWREMS, WREMAC & BEMS
    • Safe Kids >
      • Safe Kids Events
    • Cribs for Kids
    • Overdose Prevention >
      • Report Narcan Use
      • Narcan Training
      • NY Matters >
        • Leave Behind Attestation
      • Drug Disposal Resources
    • Caregiver Navigation
    • Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner >
      • Become a SAFE Provider
    • Health Insurance
    • File of Life
    • Blood Drives
    • American Heart Association Training
    • Stop the Bleed
    • BRMC/OGH Entry-Level Position Interest
  • Contact Us
  • Donate