WHY: Dementia impairs a person’s ability to communicate effectively. It reduces the ability to decode and understand information (receptive language) and the ability to encode and, therefore, express information (expressive language). Ability to mediate actions through internal speech is also reduced, thus decreasing the person’s capacity to plan and problem-solve. These language deficits are compounded by other dementia-related impairments, including memory loss, decreased attention span, and impairments in judgment, insight, abstraction, and visuospatial abilities. The combination of language deficits and other dementia-related impairments result in serious communication difficulties for older adults with dementia. The hospital setting, with its unfamiliar faces and routines, and the effects of acute illness, often exacerbate these difficulties. As a result, hospitalized older adults with dementia may be unable to understand explanations, follow directions, report symptoms and needs, ask for help, or develop and maintain relationships with staff that would support their acceptance and cooperation with treatment and care. These problems have profound implications for patient care and outcomes when the patient is hospitalized.

BEST PRACTICES: Because the patient’s language deficits and other cognitive impairments are caused by his or her dementia, the responsibility to facilitate communication lies with the clinician. Awareness of the kinds of language deficits that are common in dementia will help with this task. The impact of dementia on language abilities varies greatly, however, from one person to another. Thus, an assessment of the person’s particular deficits and communication patterns is essential. This assessment is based on observation and history obtained from the patient when possible and the family, if any. Findings from the assessment will help the clinician structure interactions with the patient in such a way as to compensate for language and other impairments, support retained abilities, and facilitate understanding.

In addition to assessing the patient’s language deficits and communication patterns, the clinician should gather other information about the patient that will help staff communicate in a relevant way, interpret unclear verbalizations, and anticipate needs. Such information includes the patient’s preferred name and the names of close relatives; daily routine, including eating, sleeping, activity, and toileting patterns; upsetting situations; potentially calming interventions; and sources of comfort and reassurance. The patient’s family and significant others are the best source for this information.

For persons with dementia, behavior is frequently a form of communication. Non-verbal behaviors, such as agitation, restlessness, aggression, and combativeness are often an expression of unmet needs (e.g. pain, hunger, thirst, and/or toileting needs). Repetitive vocalizations and changes in tone, urgency, or rapidity of speech can signify unmet needs even if the specific verbalizations seem meaningless to others. Clinicians should try to interpret the meaning of these behaviors rather than dismissing them as symptoms of the dementia.

TARGET POPULATION: Hospitalized older adults with diagnosed or suspected dementia, many of whom also have vision and hearing losses, depression, and other acute and chronic health issues.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

Ascher, E.A., Sturm, V.E., Seider, B.H., Holley, S.R., Miller, B.L., & Levenson, R.W. (2010). Relationship satisfaction and emotional language in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients and spousal caregivers. Alzheimers Disease and Associated Disorders, 24(1), 49-55. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e3181bd66a3.

de Klerk-Rubin, V. (2008). Validation techniques for dementia care: The family guide to improving communication. Baltimore: Health Professions Press.

Koenig Coste, J. (2008). Learning to speak Alzheimer’s: An introduction to the habilitation approach to care (DVD or book of the same title). Chicago: Terra Nova Films.

Silverstein, N.M., & Maslow, K. (Eds.). (2006). Improving hospital care for persons with dementia. NY: Springer Publishing Co, Inc.

Small, J.A., & Gutman, G. (2002). Recommended and reported use of communication strategies in Alzheimer caregiving. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 16(4), 270-278.

Small, J.A., Geldart, K., & Gutman, G. (2000). Communication between individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers during activities of daily living. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 15(5), 291-302.

Small, J.A., Gutman, G., & Makela, S. (2003). Effectiveness of communication strategies used by caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease during activities of daily living. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 46, 353-367.