5 Ways Communications Skills Can be Challenged when Alzheimer’s Care is Necessary

Posted: 6/4/2015 12:06 PM by Interim HealthCare
June is Effective Communications Month and any time somebody has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, getting the right level of care as early as possible is going to be tremendously beneficial, especially as the disease progresses. One of the most important aspects of any type of Alzheimer’s care is communication.

Without proper communication (meaning, the caregiver and the person with Alzheimer’s are able to communicate effectively, listen to one another, and understand what each person is saying), major problems can develop.

For somebody with dementia, especially Alzheimer’s, the challenges for communication are going to be tremendous, especially as the years progress. Below are five ways that Alzheimer’s care can be impacted by the disease itself and how communication can begin to break down.

1. Memory loss. Memory loss is the most significant symptom people think about when they consider Alzheimer’s disease. If a person doesn’t remember a conversation they had the day before, it can break down the lines of communication and cause frustration for both the elderly individual and the caregiver.

2. Stubbornness. When somebody is dealing with a disease like Alzheimer’s, they may become more stubborn, especially about the things they want to do or try. Even if they are no longer physically capable of doing it and continue to be adamant about trying, that can cause communication to break down.

3. Not willing to listen. If a person thinks he or she is right, they are less likely to listen to another perspective. Listening is one of the essential components of positive communication. If a person is dealing with memory loss, they may feel as though they are right about something, even if they are completely wrong. That could cause them to stop listening to the caregiver, family members, friends, or anybody else who is trying to help out.

4. Sundowner’s syndrome. This is a condition that leads to verbal and sometimes even a physical outburst and has a tendency to occur toward the end of the day, usually during the middle and later stages of Alzheimer’s. When somebody is having a verbal or physical outburst, it completely breaks down communication lines. The best way to deal with this is to remain patient and wait for the individual to calm down and become more lucid.

5. Frustration. On the part of a family caregiver or friend who is helping out, frustration can certainly be a factor with regard to care. If the caregiver becomes frustrated with the elderly individual, they may be less inclined to listen to what they have to say and begin dictating what should be done rather than having a conversation and finally finding out the interests of the senior himself or herself.

Relying on an experienced Alzheimer’s care provider is one of the best ways to promote positive communication between the senior and those around him or her.

If you have an aging loved one and are considering Home Care Services, contact Interim HealthCare today.