Communication

The 34 sources listed below are each rated on how they can help caregivers better understand and manage communication with a person that has Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
ALZSmart Score™ - Extraordinary90%

Dementia Care Notes

Geo Location: All (IN)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses why being able to understand the person is essential for care.  Has an embedded video [27:32] discussing communication problems and strategies.  50+ tips on communication.  Also has several communications examples and anecdotes.
Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia

Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L

Pages 20-25

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explains how communication is key to doing activities and preventing challenging behaviors.  Has 50+ tips for communicating with words.  20+ tips for nonverbal communication that you can use in combination with verbal communication.
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%

Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)

Paula Spencer Scott

Pages 132-153

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Begins with 27 bullet points on general coomunication tips.  Has 'why and try' sections on the following topics:  repetition, talks to himself or herself, uses nonsense words or gibberish, asks "What should I be doing?", curses (but didn't used to) or says other mean, hurtful, or inappropriate things, and says "I want to go home".
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%

Alzheimer's Basic Caregiving: An ABC Guide

Kathy Laurenhue, MA

Pages 49-73

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Offers 6 bullet points of using common courtesy in communication.  Looks at hearing and vision issues.  Lists 16 general guidelines for communication.  7 suggestions for building confidence.  Describes early, middle, and late stage changes in communication.
Alzheimer's Basic Caregiving:  An ABC Guide
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%

Dementia Care Central (National Institute on Aging)

Geo Location: All (US)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses language issues and dementia, including loss of communication through the stages of dementia and what to expect.  Provides 5 tips on talking to someone with dementia, 4 tips on listening, and also non-verbal communication.  Explains the other benefits of effective communication.
How to Communicate with Someone with Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%

Daily Caring

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explains why nonverbal communication is important when communicating with a person with dementia.  Discusses 7 different types of nonverbal communication.  Offers 6 nonverbal dementia communication techniques that help you connect.
6 Nonverbal Dementia Communication Techniques Make Caregiving Easier
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%

The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)

Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH

Pages 38-44

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Describes the problems of being understood, using examples to illustrate the issues.  Discusses the problems people with dementia have understanding others.  Has 7 ways to improve communication.  5 ways to communicate nonverbally.
The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%

Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide

Nataly Rubinstein, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCM

Pages 124-141

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explains the need to understand the effects of communication problems and making it more effective.  The role of family dynamics.  How dementia effects communication.  Offers 12 steps to better communication.  Plus 5 additional tips.
Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias:  The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Alzheimer's Association

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Describes 8 changes in the ability to communicate as the Alzheimer's disease progresses.  Has 9 tips for successful communication in the early stage.  12 tips for middle stage.  6 tips for late stage.
Communication and Alzheimer's
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

National Institute on Aging (ADEAR)

Geo Location: All (US)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 14 tips to help make communication easier. There's an embedded video [1:01] offering tips on comunicating.  Has some examples on what you can say.  5 tips on how to help someone who knows that he or she has memory problems.
Alzheimer's Caregiving: Changes in Communication Skills
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Daily Caring

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explores 7 simple communication techniques to keep in mind when talking to someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
How to Communicate Better With Someone Who Has Alzheimer's
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Dementia Australia

Geo Location: All (AU)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Lists 6 common changes in communication.  Explains the need to check hearing and eyesight.  4 aids to communication.  Plus 6 tips from a person with dementia.
Managing Changes in Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)

Paula Spencer Scott (and Teepa Snow)

Pages 21-25

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Interview with Teepa Snow about decoding the secret language of dementia.
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%

Careblazers: Dementia Care Heroes

Natali Edmonds, PsyD ABPP Board Certified Geropsychologist

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

[Video 6:24]  Discusses 3 communication tips in-depth:  1) When asking questions, try giving them the answer in the question, 2) Instead of telling them what not to do, tell them what to do, and 3) Go to their childhood to spark some of their remaining memories.
Dementia and Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%

Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience

Jennifer Ghent-Fuller

Pages 88-95

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Describes how the loss of language, memory loss, and the ability to communicate are interwoven.  Uses many examples the highlight issues from both the caregiver and patient perspective.
Thoughtful Dementia Care:  Understanding the Dementia Experience
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%

Learning to Speak Alzheimer's

Joanne Koenig Coste

Pages 77-84

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Begins by discussing difficulties with language and word finding.  Explains emotional communication.
Learning to Speak Alzheimer's
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%

Alzheimer's Society

Geo Location: All (UK)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

This is part 1 of a 5 part series:  1) Communicating and language, 2) Dementia and language, 3) Tips: communicating with someone with dementia, 4) Communicating with someone with sensory impairment, and 5) UK resources.
Communicating and Language
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Today's Caregiver

Diana Hull PA-C, MPH

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses managing care as an exercise in managing ambiguity.  Offers 8 keys to managing ambiguity and solving problems as they arise.
The Art of Caring: Finding Our Way Through Ambiguity
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

VA Caregiver Support (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs)

Geo Location: All (US)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explains the struggle to communicate that people with dementia have and your role in creating good communication.  Has 20+ tips you can try.
Caring for Dementia: Communicating with Your Loved One
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Aging Care

Anne-Marie Botek

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 10 tips to keep conversations with a cognitively-impaired loved one positive and valuable for everyone involved.
10 Tips For Talking to Someone with Alzheimer’s
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

National Caregivers Library

Geo Location: All (US)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Lists 8 ways to improve your listening ability.  Has 6 ways to improve concentration.  5 ways to improve your self-expression.  Offers 8 strategies to improve communication problems.
Listening and Communicating
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Pathways Home Health and Hospice

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 13 tips for talking with the dementia patient.  Show ways to establish that you are present with the person with late stage dementia.
Communication in Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Home Care Assistance

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.  Offers 20 tips to improve communication.
20 Ways to Improve Communication with a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%

HelpGuide

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Multi-topic article with coping with changes in communication about half way down the page.  Has about 20 communications dos and don'ts.
Tips for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregivers
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%

Alzheimer's Foundation of America

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Has 12 tips to help you learn how to recognize behaviors as a form of communication.  Provides a three-step approach to improving communication.
Understanding Behaviors as Forms of Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%

Lewy Body Dementia Association

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Multi-topic article.  There's a section on communication that includes a list of 9 effects on the ability to communicate.   Has 14 tips on how to improve communication.
Understanding Behavioral Changes in Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%

VeryWell Health

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Offers 9 strategies for effective communication.
9 Tips for How to Talk to Someone Who Has Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%

Alzheimer Society Canada

Geo Location: All (CA)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Offers 4 things to keep in mind before you speak.  4 keys to speaking.  4 keys to listening.  Plus other ways of communicating.
Tips for communicating with a person with dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

WebMD

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Offers 11 ways you can make it easier for both you and the person with Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Tips for Better Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Crisis Prevention Institute

Kim Warchol

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 7 tips on other forms of communication (besides verbal), such as facial expressions, gestures, body language, and difficult behaviors.
Behavior Is Communication
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

D4Dementia

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses how lack of verbal communication shouldn't be the end of communication.  Uses examples from caring for her father and how other families have helped bridged communication limitations.
Communication - It’s More Than Just Words
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Alzheimer Society Canada

Geo Location: All (CA)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Explains how dementia affect communication.  Lists 5 approaches to communication.  
Ways to Communicate
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

The Dementia Handbook

Judy Cornish

Pages 40-43

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 5 techniques to help people with dementia have successful conversations.
The Dementia Handbook
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Understand Alzheimer's

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Describes 7 changes in communication.  Has 10 steps for successful communication.
Understanding Alzheimer's

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Located in Seattle, WA

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