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Communication in Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome, not a single disease, meaning it’s a collection of symptoms caused by various brain-related conditions. These conditions damage brain cells or their connections, leading to changes in cognitive function, affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, beyond what’s expected with normal aging.

As Dementia progresses, changes in memory, language, and cognitive ability can make it more difficult for individuals to express themselves and understand others.  This section of our website offers guidance and resources to support effective communication with people living with dementia, as well as highlighting key third parties for support and information.

Communication advice

The following pages have been created to provide advice on how to support effective communication for people living with dementia.

Life story work

Life story work involves helping people to record aspects of their past and present lives along with future hopes and wishes.

Find out more information about life story work and how to create one.

Supporting cognition

Memory

If there is something you will need to remember for any period of time, for example, between walking from one place to another:

  • Write the information or key words down.
  • Repeat the information over in your head.
  • Visualise an image that represents the information.
  • Use or repeat hand gestures that represent the information, for example, numbers.

Attention

If you are finding it difficult to pay attention or stick to the topic during conversation:

  • reduce background noise, for example, TV, radio or groups of other people.
  • reduce other distractions, for example, photos and pictures on walls.
  • find a quiet environment for important conversations or if you are becoming frustrated.
  • if you become distracted, the person you are talking to can give you clues about the conversation, to help you re-gain focus and remember what you were saying, for example, “before you were distracted you were talking about_____ and said _____ “.

Task specific

  • Write down the information that you are required to remember.
  • Repeat the info. over and over in your head as you walk to the required place.
  • Use your fingers to remember some numbers.
  • Try to keep your mind focussed on the information
  • Do not look around too much, as the environment will distract you. Try to focus ahead of you and on the info. you are remembering
  • Imagine the information is in front of you and visualise it.

It is acknowledged through clinical trials that keeping your brain busy can be helpful in maintaining skills, so we have come up with a list of activities that you could do:

  • Crossword puzzles, word searching, anagrams or even sudoku
  • Talking to a friend: It doesn’t matter if its face-to-face or over the phone.
  • Writing: It can be your shopping list or even your memoirs
  • Singing and chanting: It can be anything as long as it has words
  • Listening to the radio, there are specific channels for Dementia such as M4d radio , just pick the era you will enjoy.
  • Playing games such as 20 questions, scrabble, pictionary, monopoly or any board game you want to.
  • You can even make use of apps to play online memory games or video games. There are even apps specifically designed for people with dementia!
  • Reading, either read a book or listen to an audio book, read poetry, magazines, newspapers, comics, and other printed or online content.
  • Painting and drawing can be beneficial for your well-being
  • Reminisce through sharing your life experiences and stories from the past with photos, objects, video and music clips, either as a book or on a tablet or other digital device to help you talk about your memories. You can even create a Life Story.
  • Attend local dementia-friendly cinema screenings and streaming of live theatre productions or even joining a drama group
  • Learn something new, such as a second language or a musical instrument.
  • Sign up for local adult education classes on a topic that inspires you.
  • Cooking: Follow a recipe and make something delicious, bonus points if you can recall any of the method or ingredients
  • Watching informative content on the TV or even from YouTube videos or from podcasts
  • Apps for dementia, keep the brain busy, some suggestions can be found on Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI)

Finding further support

What are admiral nurses and how can they help?

Admiral nurses are specialist dementia nurses. Continually supported and developed by Dementia UK, they provide life-changing support for families affected by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

They can give tailored health advice and emotional support and help build links with other health and care professionals. For many families, they can be a lifeline.

Carers of a person living with dementia can refer themselves to the admiral nurse service by email, or can be referred by their GP or another health or social care professional working in dementia care and support, for example, a member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) involved in their care.

If you or the person you care for would like more advice about the St James’s University Hospital or Leeds General Infirmary admiral nurse service, including whether you meet the referral criteria, please email admiralnurseteam.lypft@nhs.net.

There is the admiral nurse dementia helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org for extra support from a distance.

Dementia UK also offer virtual clinics for people too if they cannot access an Admiral Nurse, they book an appointment, this can be telephone or online.

Alzheimer’s Society UK: This website has a wealth of information for people with dementia and their families. This includes support, information about research and news and stories from people with dementia.

They also have a tool where you can search for information about services, including groups or activities, for people with dementia in your local area.

Websites

Helplines

Emails and forums

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