DEM 308
1.1
Living with dementia can mean people have difficulty with communication, how much it will change somebodies communication skills will vary from one person to another. The person may struggle to find words and more often – names, due to memory loss, or communication may be hindered if the person is in pain, has had a stroke, or is experiencing side effects from medication. But just because someone is no longer able to speak in a ‘normal’ way, does not mean they will no longer be able to communicate. This may be by using body language or non-verbal communication, with positive and negative behaviour.
For example, Jane was new to the care home, she appeared a very happy and loving lady, a previous stroke had left the muscles around her jaw very weak and she was unable to speak in a conventional way. At every mealtime, Jane would stand in front of the dining room and shout and tell off everyone in the room, she declined to eat and in the end would get so frustrated that nobody was doing as they were told that her aggression would become physical and she would abuse fellow customers and staff. The carers then looked to her care plan, started to have little meetings with Jane several times throughout the days, they would use body language, facial expressions, picture cards, pen and paper and a computer to find out what best suited her to communicate through and also to find out how she was feeling at that particular time of the day. The staff found that Jane liked to write and paint how she was feeling and what she would like to say. From family and friends, they found out that Jane had been a headmistress at a very strict school, she was the person who the naughty children were brought to and disciplined by. One day Jane saw everyone in the dining room and pointed to picture of a class room, then the carers realised she saw the room full of people as pupils. So the carers put together folders and a table that resembled a desk and asked Jane if she would like to
Living with dementia can mean people have difficulty with communication, how much it will change somebodies communication skills will vary from one person to another. The person may struggle to find words and more often – names, due to memory loss, or communication may be hindered if the person is in pain, has had a stroke, or is experiencing side effects from medication. But just because someone is no longer able to speak in a ‘normal’ way, does not mean they will no longer be able to communicate. This may be by using body language or non-verbal communication, with positive and negative behaviour.
For example, Jane was new to the care home, she appeared a very happy and loving lady, a previous stroke had left the muscles around her jaw very weak and she was unable to speak in a conventional way. At every mealtime, Jane would stand in front of the dining room and shout and tell off everyone in the room, she declined to eat and in the end would get so frustrated that nobody was doing as they were told that her aggression would become physical and she would abuse fellow customers and staff. The carers then looked to her care plan, started to have little meetings with Jane several times throughout the days, they would use body language, facial expressions, picture cards, pen and paper and a computer to find out what best suited her to communicate through and also to find out how she was feeling at that particular time of the day. The staff found that Jane liked to write and paint how she was feeling and what she would like to say. From family and friends, they found out that Jane had been a headmistress at a very strict school, she was the person who the naughty children were brought to and disciplined by. One day Jane saw everyone in the dining room and pointed to picture of a class room, then the carers realised she saw the room full of people as pupils. So the carers put together folders and a table that resembled a desk and asked Jane if she would like to