Dem 308 Understand the Role of Communication and Interactions with Individuals Who Have Dementia
DEM 308 Understand the role of communication and interactions with individuals who have dementia
1. Understand that individuals with dementia may communicate in different ways
1.1 Explain how individuals with dementia may communicate through their behaviour
The way a person is behaving is usually a good indicator of what they are trying to communicate, especially if they have difficulty expressing their feelings with words. Body language will also provide clues. People wish to be heard and validated and the way they behave may indicate how they are feeling. so a person presenting as angry may be feeling frustrated. People presenting as sad may be experiencing vivid memories of a past event that seems very real and current to them. Someone with dementia may feel they are losing control of their world so they may come across as cantankerous or even aggressive when you enter their home.
1.2 Give examples of how carers and others may misinterpret communication
Initially people experiencing memory losses may feel frustrated or angry with themselves and this may come across as being angry with someone else. An inability to have empathy could make the person appear selfish and a loss of social etiquette could result in the client making thoughtless comments, being rude or exhibiting sexual behaviours in public. Asking the same question in a short space of time or repeating conversations may appear as if the client isn’t listening.
1.3 Explain the importance of effective communication to an individual with dementia
A person with dementia lives in a very frightening world where things that have just happened are immediately lost. The person may also forget where they live, what age they are or where their loved ones are. A carer or anyone else can help to make the world a little easier to understand by remaining patient and reassuring the person by telling them the facts that they are missing. It may be necessary to repeat the information
1. Understand that individuals with dementia may communicate in different ways
1.1 Explain how individuals with dementia may communicate through their behaviour
The way a person is behaving is usually a good indicator of what they are trying to communicate, especially if they have difficulty expressing their feelings with words. Body language will also provide clues. People wish to be heard and validated and the way they behave may indicate how they are feeling. so a person presenting as angry may be feeling frustrated. People presenting as sad may be experiencing vivid memories of a past event that seems very real and current to them. Someone with dementia may feel they are losing control of their world so they may come across as cantankerous or even aggressive when you enter their home.
1.2 Give examples of how carers and others may misinterpret communication
Initially people experiencing memory losses may feel frustrated or angry with themselves and this may come across as being angry with someone else. An inability to have empathy could make the person appear selfish and a loss of social etiquette could result in the client making thoughtless comments, being rude or exhibiting sexual behaviours in public. Asking the same question in a short space of time or repeating conversations may appear as if the client isn’t listening.
1.3 Explain the importance of effective communication to an individual with dementia
A person with dementia lives in a very frightening world where things that have just happened are immediately lost. The person may also forget where they live, what age they are or where their loved ones are. A carer or anyone else can help to make the world a little easier to understand by remaining patient and reassuring the person by telling them the facts that they are missing. It may be necessary to repeat the information