As many of us face
loved ones who are aging, we must deal with changes in communication. The natural aging process itself presents
changes in memory capacity. Those in their
senior years with disease, such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,
deal with an even greater communication barrier. Often the anxiety falls
greatest upon those caring for the loved one.
Alzheimer’s affects 4.5 million Americans, who can live from 3-20 years
following the onset of symptoms.
Statistically, family members must shoulder more than 75% of everyday
care-giving needs. Communication has
been ranked as one of the most important needs. Family tension can be relieved with simple guidelines and
suggestions. Long-term memory is the
strength of an individual with dementia.
Often this can be used to support short term memory loss. In the November 4, 2002 issue of Advance magazine, 10 Communication Commandments
were outlined I’d like to share them with you.
1. Focus on past events with familiar people, places, routines and employment.
Use photos, familiar scents or objects to stimulate memory.
2. Speak slowly, repeat frequently, use shorter sentences. Make one comment at a time, don’t give complicated explanations or
directions. Write things down for the
person to refer to later. Use people’s
names and avoid vague terms (“over there, that”) Provide words if they are having trouble, and fill in partial
memories.
3. Maintain eye contact, speak face to face, reduce background noise. Turn off the radio or TV when conversing.
4. Watch your emotional tone. More than 65% of our message
is delivered non-verbally. A voice that is angry or frustrated can
bring about a negative reaction.
5. Avoid open-ended questions. Give choices (“do you want turkey or beef?’) Ask one question at a time and wait for the answer.
6. Don’t interrupt. Allow
them to complete a thought even if it doesn’t make sense.
7. Maintain social rituals. Say hello, goodbye, ask about
their day.
8. Assume the person understands
what you say. Be mindful of what you say
and how you say it, even if it doesn’t seem as though they are understanding.
9. Remember that touch is communication, too. Hug, touch, handhold often. It
communicates reassuring.
10. Always
include the person in family conversations. Leaving
them out of conversations can make them feel isolated and lonely.
Another critical consideration is the
person’s level of hearing. Be sure to
have their hearing tested by an audiologist.
In closing,
remember the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have done unto
you.” We may all be cared for by our
loved ones one day. The examples we set
may well determine how we are treated.
Laurie Johnson
Material adapted from Advance
for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
Website: http://www.advanceforspanda.com/