MESSAGE Communication in Dementia: Teaching Examples for Care Staff

Summary

This video script showcases examples of care assistants interacting with individuals with dementia, highlighting effective communication strategies. It contrasts two approaches: one where the care assistant maximizes attention and engagement through supportive listening and visual aids, and another where the assistant's actions unintentionally frustrate the individual by asking unclear questions or ignoring their non-verbal cues. The video emphasizes the importance of patience, simplicity, and responsiveness in helping people with dementia maintain meaningful conversations, focusing on the value of the interaction rather than just the content of the responses.

Takeaways

• 😀 Debbie effectively engages Stanley by maintaining eye contact, sitting at his eye level, and using visual aids like a football scarf.
• 😀 Debbie shows genuine interest through voice, gestures, and accepting unexpected responses from Stanley, encouraging him to continue speaking.
• 😀 Debbie provides Stanley with extra time to process and respond, fostering a supportive and patient conversation.
• 😀 Debbie repeats and reflects Stanley's words to support his understanding, helping him feel heard and valued.
• 😀 Katrina's approach was less effective due to her physical movement, which distracted Stanley, and the complexity of her questions.
• 😀 Katrina's repeated questioning about breakfast and memory issues made Stanley feel frustrated and misunderstood.
• 😀 Katrina's over-familiar use of 'darling' could have been interpreted as patronizing, creating a disconnect in their communication.
• 😀 Katrina failed to notice Stanley's verbal and nonverbal cues, such as his frustration, which led to further miscommunication.
• 😀 Debbie adapts well to Ivy’s communication needs, giving her ample time to respond and focusing on the interaction rather than precise answers.
• 😀 Debbie acknowledges Ivy’s vague responses and reflects her words, promoting a sense of involvement and encouraging more engagement.
• 😀 By using minimal responses like 'yeah,' Debbie effectively encourages Ivy to continue the conversation despite her communication challenges.

Q & A

How does Debbie maximize Stanley's attention and support his communication?

Debbie maximizes Stanley's attention by sitting at his eye level, maintaining eye contact, and using her voice and gestures to show interest. She also uses visual aids, like a football scarf, to help orient Stanley to the conversation topic.

What strategy does Debbie use when Stanley provides unexpected responses?

Debbie accepts Stanley's contributions as meaningful, even when they are unexpected, and encourages him to continue by reflecting his words back to him and giving him extra time to respond.

What mistake did Katrina make when trying to engage Stanley in conversation?

Katrina asked complicated, multi-part questions that were difficult for Stanley to follow, such as 'What did you have for breakfast, do you recall?' She also repeated questions that Stanley had already answered, which led to confusion and frustration.

How could Katrina have improved her communication with Stanley?

Katrina could have kept her questions simpler and given Stanley more time to respond. She could also have used reflective responses to show understanding and avoid repeating questions that had already been answered.

What was the impact of Katrina’s use of the word 'darling' on the conversation?

Katrina's use of the word 'darling' could have been interpreted as overly familiar or condescending, which may have made Stanley feel uncomfortable or patronized.

How did Debbie handle the conversation with Ivy, who was in the more severe stages of dementia?

Debbie used a relaxed and engaging approach, giving Ivy plenty of time to respond. She accepted vague responses and focused on the interaction itself rather than the content, encouraging Ivy to contribute more with minimal prompts.

Why is it important to reflect a person's words back during a conversation with someone who has dementia?

Reflecting a person's words back helps them feel understood and encourages further communication. It also signals that the caregiver is actively listening, which can enhance the overall quality of the interaction.

What role does nonverbal communication play in these interactions?

Nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions, gestures, and body language, plays a key role in supporting the verbal exchange. It helps convey warmth, interest, and understanding, making the interaction more engaging for the person with dementia.

How did Debbie’s use of Ivy’s family members' names impact the conversation?

Using Ivy's daughter's name helped establish rapport and personalized the conversation, making Ivy feel more connected and engaged in the interaction.

What key lesson can be learned from the contrast between Debbie and Katrina's interactions with their respective patients?

The key lesson is the importance of being patient, maintaining simplicity in communication, and adjusting strategies based on the individual’s level of cognitive ability. Debbie was able to foster a supportive, engaging environment by reflecting responses and using familiar topics, while Katrina’s approach led to confusion and frustration due to her more complex questioning and lack of attentiveness to Stanley's needs.