Communication

Keep communication simple and reinforce it with nonverbal cues

Keep your sentences short and simple

Use visual cues (touch or point to the object)

Use Tactile (touch) cues

For example, if you want your love one with Alzheimer’s to sit down on a certain chair try standing by the chair and tap it while you say “sit down”.   This is a visual and auditory cue for those with Alzheimer’s disease.  Often the individual with Alzheimer’s disease has a hard time processing or understanding long or complex directions and will then become resistive or confused.  This simplification of directions and additional non verbal cues sometimes makes it easier for the client and therefore decreases their stress and increases their ability to follow the directions.

Use a Pleasant Tone of Voice

Ask don’t Command

Also at times the client with Alzheimer’s disease is affected more by the tone of your voice than by what you say.   Try to ask or give directions in a non-threatening or more pleasant tone.  This is tricky because you want to keep the sentences as short as possible.   I find giving the same cues – tapping or touching the object and add “Could you sit here”?  Seems to make the direction less of a command.

If giving choices make them simple and use the objects if possible.   If you are asking the person with Alzheimer’s disease if they want peas or corn?, try putting them both in front and pointing to the corn when saying “corn” and then pointing to the peas when saying “peas”

Help Start the activity with Gentle Hand over Hand Assistance with the movement or activity

Also at times if you see the person trying to start an activity after the directions but unable to either move to the object or manipulate the object you might help them by putting it into their hand and helping them cup the object and gently physically assist them in starting the task.  For example, “After my mother gets her shower I found if I tell her to put on her deodorant she reaches out and touching it but does not know how to form her hand around the container.  If I cupped her hand on the deodorant and help her move her hand to her underarm with the deodorant in that hand she then proceeds using the deodorant appropriate and independently apply it to her other underarm without  assistance or directions.  This seems to work well with self feeding as well.

Don’t argue or use logic  -   just wait a few minutes and try the same activity again

If you give a directions and the person becomes resistive than either redirect the person to another task, or give the Alzheimer’s client time to relax and try the activity later. 

Try giving the answer written on a paper

If a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease is still able to read and is constantly asking you the same questions try writing down a very simple answer on a piece of paper and give it to them.   For example, my mother was constantly asking for my father so I wrote on a piece of paper “POP HELPING JIM”.  It did help her relax and made her feel better knowing her husband was helping his son. 

Try a message on a tape recorder

If your loved one get anxious or agitated waiting for someone try making a recording of that person’s voice saying that they will be there soon.

Help by Listening to the Intent of the communication and respond with empathy

Give them the word they are searching for

As part of the disease, the Alzheimer’s client will have difficulty retrieving the correct word or ideas “word finding”.   Help by listening and responding to their emotions.   My mother will often say things like “I want to go home”.  Being around her for a long time I know that means she wants to take a rest.  I’ll answer her with I’m sure you are tired, you had a long day. While looking outside she will say “There are a lot of people outside” Often I will see by her gestures or attempts to communicate that she wants to say something I will try to say for her, “I see you are looking at the flowers outside”.  She then will be able to talk about the flowers because I have given her the word.  This is less frustrating to her than to say, “I don’t see any people out there?”

Redirect

Often times the Alzheimer client will request something over and over again that is inappropriate.   My mother will ask to go home, for a walk or to go outside.   Instead of saying “No” you are at home or it’s raining outside, I will redirect.   We will ________ after we finish watching this show, eat dinner, put the dishes away, etc.  Usually when the activity is completed the request usually has ceased.