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It may not be a disease but dementia influences an individual's social skills and way of thinking. A person diagnosed with dementia may forget a significant event that happened 50 years back or worse, 20 minutes ago. As people age, the risk of developing this condition increases and with it comes problems related to language and judgement. Since patients with dementia are prone to mood swings, memory loss, and difficulties in communication skills, highly qualified and compassionate caregivers are usually tasked to provide special dementia care. Caregivers can help turn things around with a great deal of patience, sincerity and kindness. Aside from handling live in care tasks like housekeeping, cooking meals, or buying medicine, caregivers also excel in the way they communicate with affected individuals. In fact, communication is a very important key in dealing with dementia patients because they can go through periods of depression. So if your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you can learn a thing or two from a caregiver's way of communicating: Positive Interaction When you communicate with your loved one, show feelings of affection and set a good mood. Speak to him or her in a positive way. Don't use gestures or expressions that may lead to stressful episodes. Speak Clearly Patience is an important trait so train yourself to speak in a reassuring tone. Don't raise your voice or use big words. If your loved one doesn't seem to understand what you're trying to say, repeat your message by using the same words or you can wait for a few minutes before saying the message once again. If you ask questions, make sure that they are only answerable by yes or no. Don't attack the patient with a chunk of queries that can put pressure on the situation. Listen Well Since the memory and communication skills of patients with dementia decline, they may struggle to provide you with quick answers. You can suggest a few words but listening to what your loved one is trying to say is more important. Remember, your job is to answer appropriately so don't let anything negative get in the way of your attempt to communicate well with the person you love. If you want more tips on dementia care, you can visit saga.co.uk/care/carers-tips/ten-tips-for-better-dementia-caring.aspx.
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