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Communications for Mild Alzheimer's Disease
Issues to think about
Possible changes that may occur
Steps for patients
Steps for caregivers
Issues to Think About — Steps You Can Take
Communication changes are often subtle during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, communication abilities may vary from day to day, so what seems lost today may return tomorrow.
Possible Changes That May Occur:
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Having difficulty finding words when speaking. |
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Not understanding the meaning of words. |
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Losing their train of thought in the middle of a sentence, story, or conversation. |
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Having difficulty remembering steps in common activities. |
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Having trouble filtering out background noises and distractions. |
Steps the Person with Mild Alzheimer's Disease Can Take:
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Take your time when speaking. You are worth waiting for! |
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Have your vision and hearing tested to check for problems that might make communication difficult. |
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Take notes as you are reading to help you remember, or try reading aloud. |
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Before making a phone call, write down notes to plan what to say. |
Steps the Caregiver Can Take:
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Get the attention of the person with mild Alzheimer's disease before you speak. Speak slowly and clearly. |
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Give the person plenty of time to get words and thoughts together. |
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Suggest a word if you think you know what the person is trying to say. |
Communications for Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
Issues to think about
Possible changes that may occur
Steps for patients
Steps for caregivers
Issues to Think About — Steps You Can Take
Communication may become more difficult as the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease worsen, but there is still a lot you can do to keep sharing ideas and feelings. Not every suggestion for improving communication will work every day with every person, but by trying different methods, you can find the ones that work the best for you.
Possible Changes That May Occur:
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Being distracted by background noise from the television, dishwasher, or other people's conversations. |
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Having difficulty starting conversations. |
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Having difficulty understanding requests that have several steps. |
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Using familiar words over and over. |
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Preferring to speak his or her first language (if he or she speaks more than one language). |
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Becoming upset when communication is not clear. |
Steps the Person with Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Can Take:
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Take your time when speaking. |
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Find a quiet place where there is not too much noise. |
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Point to things to show what you mean. |
Steps the Caregiver Can Take:
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Use simple words. Keep sentences short. |
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Turn off the television, radio, or other appliances when having a conversation. |
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When making requests, give one step at a time. For example, instead of saying, "Put your shoes and socks on," say, "Put your sock on. Now put your shoe on." |
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Limit choices. For example, instead of asking, "What do you want for dinner?" ask, "Would you like hamburgers or chicken for dinner?" |
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Use gestures or pictures to get your point across. |
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Learn key words in the person's first language to help you ask about daily activities. |
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Try not to ask questions that focus on memory, such as "Do you remember…?" |
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Watch the person's body language to help you understand what he or she is saying. |
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Communicate without using words, such as by using music or by providing a comforting touch. |
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