Health Tip: Talking to a Person With Alzheimer's Disease

Suggestions to help improve communication

(HealthDay News) -- As Alzheimer's disease progresses, communicating becomes more of a challenge.

The U.S. National Institute on Aging offers these suggestions for talking to someone with Alzheimer's:

• Speak in a calm, soothing tone of voice.
• Use simple, short words and sentences -- but avoid baby talk, or speaking like you would to a child.
• Avoid talking about the person in front of him or her.
• Turn off the TV, radio or any other possible distractions when trying to communicate.
• Get the person's full attention before speaking, and refer to the person by name.
• If the person is trying to communicate but is having trouble finding words, gently try to suggest words the person may be looking for.
• Be patient and give the person plenty of time to think and respond.

-- Diana Kohnle

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Last updated 4/18/2008.

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