Are you taking care of a loved one with dementia? According to the CDC, dementia is the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with everyday activities. Communicating with a dementia patient may be challenging, but here are some tips to help you:
- Use short, simple, direct sentences.
As a home health aide in Livingston, New Jersey, communicating with a dementia patient is essential daily. Remember to avoid complicated sentences and focus on speaking using short sentences. Avoid beating around the bush; be direct in every word you say. - Don’t counter aggressive behavior.
Patients with dementia may display aggressive behavior in response to their environment. If you’re a care professional providing home health care in Summit, New Jersey, learn how to handle it calmly and understand why the patient is aggressive. Countering it with the same behavior will only do more harm than good. - Communicate non-verbally.
As a CNA in New Jersey, knowing how to communicate non-verbally is fundamental when dealing with a dementia patient. Nod to show you agree or a pat on the shoulder to tell them you understand how they feel. There are other non-verbal cues to express you hear and value your dementia patients.
Aquinas Healthcare offers home care services in Chatham, New Jersey. We understand that a decline in personal health is something most people will face, especially later in life. But you don’t have to worry when the time comes. We are here for you! Under our care, you can rest easy knowing you or your loved ones are under the care of compassionate healthcare professionals.