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Communication

What the person’s friends should know about dementia

It’s important for people with dementia to maintain friendships. Social contact will aid their emotional health and wellbeing. There’s evidence to show that even short bouts of social interaction will benefit a person with dementia.

Encourage the person to keep in touch with friends and support them to do so. <Link to friends article>. However, it’s also useful for their friends to understand that dementia is about much more than memory. Over time, the person’s behaviour will change. Good communication between you and the person’s friends will benefit them. Sharing your knowledge about dementia will help everyone to cope with the challenges it can bring.

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Key things to communicate to their friends…

  • Having a conversation can be more difficult for a person with dementia – they may struggle to absorb information, and it may take them longer to formulate a response to questions. <Link to communication article>.

  • They may lose the ability to edit their thoughts – we all know someone with ‘no filter’. A person with dementia may become more outspoken and direct, even if they were previously diplomatic by nature. Dementia affects the brain’s ability to edit thoughts; therefore, they may say inappropriate or rude things. They may even make sexual comments they wouldn’t have dreamed of making before their dementia.

  • Don’t contradict the person – a person with dementia may get frustrated if you try to contradict a statement they have made. Even if they are wrong, there’s no benefit in telling them. It may lead to anger and misunderstandings.

  • Don’t take things personally – a person with dementia may make comments that seem personal but aren’t meant to be. Chances are, they are having a bad day and are unaware of what they have said. They may even forget they have said something hurtful five minutes later.

  • Visits should be well-timed. If the person tends to get tired in the late afternoon or early evening, they may be best visited earlier in the day. This will ensure that both parties enjoy quality time together.

  • Knowledge is power – encourage the person’s friends to learn as much as they can about dementia. The more they understand about the condition and how it affects the brain, the better placed they will be to maintain a good relationship with the person.

  • Seek support – if friends find it hard to cope with the fact that the person they are close to is changing, encourage them to seek help and support. Explain that there are organisations out there who can help, and of course, DementiaNet has a wealth of helpful articles on all aspects of dementia care.