How to Talk to Someone With Dementia: New Insights

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two
People with dementia remember more than it may appear, says a small but interesting new study from the UK's University of Dundee. All knowledge isn't lost forever, as it may appear when the person is asked something and blanks on a correct response. That knowledge may be retrieved if the person is asked questions in the right way. The researchers found that when subjects were asked the meaning of words, they often couldn't say. But when the same information was asked in different ways, with more context, they often did remember.

Some related tips on how to talk to someone with dementia to boost their understanding:

Be as clear and specific as possible.
Instead of: "Do you remember Mary?"

Try: "Here's Mary, your cousin. She used to live next-door to you in Chicago."

Instead of: "What do you want for lunch?"

Try: "Do you want to eat a turkey sandwich?"

Use short sentences. Give one instruction at a time.