Encouraging communication in a person with Alzheimer’s

Communication can be hard for people with Alzheimer’s disease because they have trouble remembering things. They may struggle to find words or forget what they want to say. You can help make things easier by staying calm and patient. Steps you can take to encourage communication include: Show a warm, loving, matter-of-fact manner. Hold the person’s hand while you talk. Be open to the person’s concerns, even if he or she is hard to understand. Let him or her make some decisions and stay involved. Be patient with angry outbursts. Remember, it’s the illness “talking.” Visit our website to learn more about the changes in communication skills that may come with Alzheimer’s disease and how you can make communication easier. Share this information on social media: People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble remembering what they want to say or finding the right words. It helps to be gentle and patient. Check out these tips on encouraging communication in people with Alzheimer’s from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving-changes-communication-skills