understanding dementia behavior, part five.

fourth tip from fca: listen with your ears, eyes and heart. be patient in waiting for your loved one's reply. if she is struggling for an answer, it's okay to suggest words. watch for nonverbal cues and body language, and respond appropriately. always strive to listen for the meaning and feelings that underlie the words.

my addition to this tip: if your friend with dementia speaks multiple languages, don't be surprised if they start to lose their second language. for example, one of my patients at the clinic used to speak perfect english even though it was her second language. now that her dementia has progressed, she goes back and forth between english and japanese and she'll eventually probably only speak to us or respond in japanese. in these times, it's vital to watch for nonverbal cues. especially if you're like me and DON'T speak japanese.

the majority of the above information is from one of my favorite sources: family caregiver alliance, www.caregiver.org

read my disclaimer here.