No one likes to feel left out of the conversation – including people living with dementia. Sometimes, all it takes is a little extra thought to make sure everyone feels included.

Here are some things you can do to help make communication a bit easier when someone you know is living with dementia.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases which can impact memory, language and how people communicate.

Specific types of dementia can affect someone’s understanding of the meaning of words or their ability to produce language.

People with dementia may find it hard to find the right words, or it might take them longer to process information.

Changes in memory and thinking can also make it hard to keep up with conversations and remember what you wanted to say.

Dementia affects each person differently. There is no one way of talking to people living dementia, just as there is no one way of talking to any group of people.

But the principles remain the same

People with dementia continue to face high levels of discrimination and stigma.

But fundamentally, how you talk to someone living with dementia is the same as talking to anyone else.

Communicating means being clear and showing respect, and not assuming what the other person may or may not be able to understand.

When someone has dementia, you may have to adapt and simplify some of the ways you communicate. But........

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