Dementia: respectful communication awareness

A person living with dementia has preferences, relationships, experiences and ways of communicating. Speak to the person respectfully rather than treating a diagnosis as their identity. The Alzheimer Society of Canada supports a person-centred approach.

In a fictional welcome conversation, ask how the person would like to be addressed and listen to what matters to them. Avoid assuming that a companion should answer every question. This module concerns communication; it does not assess capacity, diagnose dementia or prescribe care.

Reflect: Rewrite a task-focused greeting as a respectful introduction.

Communication can take more time. Reduce avoidable distractions, use clear language and allow the person an opportunity to respond. Pay attention to tone and non-verbal communication as well as spoken words.

Scenario: you ask several questions quickly and receive no response. Instead of repeating them more loudly, pause, simplify the conversation and give time. If a particular approach is not helping, seek advice from the responsible team member and the agreed communication plan.

Reflect: Practise asking one clear question, then allowing a pause.

The aim of a care conversation is connection and understanding, not testing someone’s memory. A respectful approach avoids public correction or arguments about mistakes. Respond to the concern or feeling and use the person’s communication preferences.

Scenario: someone repeats a question during a noisy activity. Consider whether the setting and pace are making communication harder. Use the agreed approach and ask for support if distress continues; do not infer a diagnosis or change a treatment plan from this example.

Reflect: What could you change about the setting before repeating your question?

Record relevant observations through the approved workplace process, using factual descriptions rather than labels. For example, distinguish what you heard or saw from an assumption about someone’s motive. Do not put identifying stories into an Academy reflection.

If communication or behaviour changes suddenly, seek prompt assessment through the responsible clinical team or local urgent-response process. Do not assume every change is caused by dementia. This lesson does not teach assessment or management of delirium or another medical condition.

Reflect: Write a fictional observation that describes behaviour without assigning a motive.

Ask which communication supports are available, how personal preferences are recorded and who can help when the usual approach is not working. Language, hearing and cultural preferences may affect a conversation; check rather than presume.

For Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, confirm the person’s preferred language and the workplace’s approved support arrangements. French-language learning and local clinical review remain separate from completing this English awareness module. Your next step may be a supervised conversation with feedback from an appropriate trainer.

Reflect: Name one skill to practise and one person who can give you feedback.