World Alzheimer's Month

I’ve written before about my late great, great, great Aunty Nansi. I loved hear dearly and was privileged to spend many happy summers holidaying at her house in Hereford when I was a child. Every summer we would pack up the car and set off from west Wales to stay at her house or caravan nearby, spending days playing in her summer house in the garden or racing our bikes along the country paths surrounding her home.

Being my great, great, great Aunty she was already in the later stages of her life when I was born and the only way I knew her apart from looking at old photos was with white hair and a face showing years of adventures and laughter. 

Whilst she may have already been considered a senior citizen when I was young she was in great health, apart from the odd ache and pain that comes from a lifetime of hard work, and had a great zest for life. What I loved most and remember ever so fondly of our time spent together was the amazing stories she shared with me from her lifetime - such as the days of hardship then  triumph during the war, her days in London working as a live in nanny and her daily adventures from then.

Tips for Communicating with Someone who has Dementia.

If a close person to you is suffering with dementia, it can be really tough to maintain the relationship you once had with them, and at times even the simplest of communication with them can feel like a really difficult battle. 

There are some tips listed below to hopefully help make things that little bit easier so you can be there for them as much as possible, and so that you will both be happier, too.

Don’t be afraid to let some things go

Of course, the person who has dementia will get things slightly muddled or even may get things completely wrong at times. You may feel yourself going to automatically correct and argue with them, but it’s often best to let some things go and just move on with the conversation to avoid frustration and tension.

Be as calming and positive as possible

Remaining calm and upbeat as much as you can will be really important for them, especially as their condition develops and they may feel scared in front of people who they no longer recognise. You will of course feel sadness and even anger towards the situation, but hiding this from them will be really important for keeping them happy and comfortable.