Communication Tips and Techniques for Caregivers

1. Communication Tips and Techniques for Caregivers By Home Care Assistance of Greater New Haven

2. Effectively communicating with your loved can be one of the biggest challenges you face as a caregiver. You may be confronted with issues ranging from memory loss to hearing loss that can pose significant barriers to communication. The following are a few tips that may make your job just a little bit easier.

3. Coping with Memory Loss: Individuals with dementia often have trouble coming up with the right word during a conversation or remembering names of everyday objects. You can help your loved one by doing the following:

4. If your loved one is struggling to find a word or complete a thought, offer a gentle suggestion or try to provide what they are needing. • Jog your loved one’s memory by pointing to objects or using pictures. • Instead of giving detailed instructions on what to do, walk your loved one through the process. • Provide frequent reminders regarding upcoming events. Many caregivers find it helpful to place a dry-erase board in a prominent place where they can provide their loved one with a visual reminder of the date, daily schedule, and important upcoming events.

5. Coping with Hearing Loss: The natural tendency when dealing with someone with a hearing impairment is to simply speak louder. This can actually be insulting and make you harder to understand. Instead, try the following techniques:

6. Face the individual directly and ensure there is good lighting so that they can see your face clearly. • Speak slowly and distinctly in an even tone. • Avoid changing topics too rapidly. • Be patient and give your loved one plenty of time to formulate their response to your questions.

7. Be Present: When engaging in a conversation with your loved one, try to create an environment where you can both give each other your undivided attention.

8. Choose a quiet environment free of excess background noise and distractions. • Address your loved one by name before starting a conversation. This will help to draw their focus to you. • Maintain eye contact so that your loved one knows that you are talking to them and are interested in what they have to say. • Use gentle touch and physical contact to keep your loved one’s attention focused on you and to provide reassurance.

9. Nonverbal Communication: Body language is just as an important part of communication as speech. The following are some ways to enhance nonverbal communication with your loved one:

10. Maintain an appropriate distance. Your loved one may feel threatened or overwhelmed when crowded. • Use gestures to indicate what you want. • If all else fails, draw pictures or write out what you are trying to say. Finally, pause to take a deep breath if you find yourself becoming frustrated and avoid trying to reason or argue to prove your point. This will only result in your loved one feeling marginalized and devalued.

11. Thank You! Address: 51 River St, Milford, CT 06460 Phone: (203) 444-8575 Presentation By www.homecareassistancenewhaven.com