The Critical Importance of Communication
How to communicate effectively with your loved one.
Dear Caregivers,
Communication is one of the hallmarks of the human species. While other animals and plants have ways to signal each other, our ability to have conversations is uniquely human. Children are born with the innate ability to learn one or more languages that they hear around them, simply by listening.
Unfortunately, in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease this precious gift begins to erode, making conversation more difficult. So, it's a critically important priority for you to understand these changes in your loved one, and to learn the basics of the best ways to communicate. Read on to learn more.
Hone Your Communication Skills:
It is important to communicate effectively with your loved one as Alzheimer’s disease hampers their ability to speak and understand. In the second installment of our “Caregiver Essentials,” you’ll learn what changes to expect, the important tactics to use to improve conversations, and “The Ten Commandments of Communication.” Watch the video here.
Manage the Difficult Conversations
Honing your communication skills will help you navigate some of the difficult conversations that caregivers need to have with their loved ones. Here are two examples:
When It's Time to Stop Driving:
Having to give up a driver’s license represents a great loss of freedom and mobility and can be difficult emotionally, as it is symbolic of loss of control over one’s life. But at some point, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease will impair your loved one’s intellectual abilities to the extent that they cannot safely drive a car. Here’s how to manage that conversation.
Plan Ahead to Protect Your Loved One:
One of the unfortunate results of the decline from Alzheimer’s comes when your loved one is no longer capable of independently making decisions about their care or personal possessions. This situation requires that someone else be assigned to advocate, speak, and make decisions on their behalf. Here’s how to discuss this situation with your loved one and set up that legal process.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
— Anthony Robbins
