Communication tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers

Communication is hard for people with Alzheimer’s disease because they have trouble remembering things. You may feel impatient and wish they could just say what they want, but they can’t. When speaking with a person with Alzheimer’s, try to be direct, specific, and positive. Here are some communication tips and examples of what you can say:  Ask questions that require a yes or no answer. For example, you could say, “Are you tired?” instead of “How do you feel?”  Limit the number of choices. For example, you could say, “Would you like a hamburger or chicken for dinner?” instead of “What would you like for dinner?”  Use different words if he or she doesn't understand the first time. For example, if you ask the person whether he or she is hungry and you don’t get a response, you could say, “Dinner is ready now. Let’s eat.”  Try not to say, “Don’t you remember?” or “I told you.”   Visit NIA’s website for more tips to make communication with people with Alzheimer's disease easier.  Share this information on social media: When speaking with a person with #Alzheimers, be direct, specific, and positive. Find more #communication tips for Alzheimer’s #caregivers here: https://bit.ly/2XO1pOS