One of the hardest changes to make when you’re taking care of a parent who has Alzheimer’s is changing the way that you communicate with them. As their Alzheimer’s progresses, it’s necessary to learn effective communication techniques that take into account the changes that they have gone through.
Family members often struggle to communicate with a senior parent who has Alzheimer’s. If you lose your patience or make a mistake, don’t be hard on yourself. Like anything else, it’s a skill that you need to learn.
Alzheimer’s home care is a great resource if you’re taking care of a parent with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s home care is a comprehensive type of care that focuses on keeping seniors with Alzheimer’s happy and safe at home.
An Alzheimer’s home care provider can help you learn effective communication techniques like:
Use Simple and Clear Language
Your mom or dad will likely not able to understand you unless you use very simple language. Even long sentences may confuse them. Remember that they have trouble following a train of though. Speak slowly and use short, straightforward sentences. Avoid complex explanations and jargon, this will help prevent confusion.
Maintain Eye Contact
Because your mom or dad may have trouble understanding the words that you say to them they will be looking at your eyes to gauge the emotion that you’re trying to convey. Keep yourself at their eye level and make eye contact when speaking. This helps capture their attention and makes them feel more engaged.
Be Patient and Give Them Time
Your mom or dad will need extra time to process what you’re saying and determine an appropriate response. Allow them time to process what they’re hearing and respond. Avoid rushing or interrupting them. Try to be patient and not get frustrated if they need to think before answering a question or trying to participate in a conversation.
Use Non-Verbal Cues
Your mom or dad will rely on your nonverbal cues to figure out the context of what you’re saying and what they are supposed to do. So, it’s extremely important to use nonverbal cues as well as your words. You can use gestures, facial expressions, and even visual aids to support verbal communication. For example, pointing to objects or using pictures can be helpful.
Avoid Arguing or Correcting
Don’t argue with your mom or dad. Don’t correct them either. If they remember something incorrectly don’t correct them. If they insist that they haven’t had breakfast when they did, don’t try to tell them they’re wrong.
When you argue with or correct your mom or dad it can make them feel frustrated, but also scared. If you tell them they have remembered something wrong they may be scared because they don’t understand why they can’t remember it any other way.
Instead of arguing or correcting your parents if they make mistakes or have misunderstandings, try redirecting them to something else so that they don’t feel upset, scared, or frustrated.
Use Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement
Offer praise and encouragement for their efforts in communication. Positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and engagement.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Bloomfield, CT, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Hartford, CT, today. Call (860) 969-3134
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Hartford, CT, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Hartford, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Cromwell, East Hartford, Farmington, Glastonbury, Kensington, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Windsor and surrounding areas in Connecticut.
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