Alzheimer's Society supports Bupa toolkit helping loved ones discuss dementia

Helping people to communicate with their friends and loved ones living with dementia is the purpose of a new Talking Toolkit launched by Bupa.

The toolkit has been developed in response to research commissioned by Bupa and carried out by ICM shows that one in three Brits are nervous about speaking to people who have dementia.

One in five people, (19 per cent) people say that they fear meeting someone with dementia because they don’t understand the symptoms.

30 per cent of those who have a friend or relative with dementia say that they are not sure how to support them with 35 per cent saying they don’t know what to expect as their condition progresses.

Continuing to engage and interact with loved ones living with dementia is of vital importance, even when the person no longer appears to be ‘in the present’.

The Talking Toolkit explains all stages of dementia, from memory loss and confusion to physical frailty and dependency. It provides guidance and practical tips from Bupa dementia care experts that will help people to engage and connect with those living with dementia.

The guide aims to promote understanding of how dementia affects people’s ability to convey their thoughts and feelings, and how this changes over time.

The Talking Toolkit advice includes:

• Try not to ask open questions, as this can be confusing for someone with dementia. All questions should have a direct ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, or lead them to the answer. For example, instead of asking “what would you like for lunch”, ask “Would you like a cheese sandwich?”

• Where possible, keep statements brief. Remember that the person may lose the thread of the conversation if you talk for too long and this can lead to irritation and frustration for both you and the person with dementia.

• Try not to contradict the person with dementia as this could increase their anxiety. Remember that at that moment, what they are saying is what they know to be true.

• If the person with dementia is no longer able to communicate with you by talking, your physical presence may be enough to reassure them or put them at ease.

Prof. Graham Stokes, director of dementia care, Bupa Care Services said“We know there is a stigma associated with dementia and people are fearful of trying to communicate with those with the condition as they don’t know what to say or how to respond to what might be perceived as unusual behaviour.

“Communicating with someone with dementia can present challenges especially as the condition develops, but finding ways to maintain meaningful communication is the single most important way people can support those with dementia. Our toolkit identifies some specific ways to help and encourage people to do this.

“The more people understand about dementia, the more they will be able to help those living with it. The daily struggle to communicate can often leave carers feeling that there is a great emotional distance between themselves and their loved ones and this toolkit has been designed to bridge that gap, help carers cope and hopefully to dispel some of the misconceptions that exist about the condition.

“While there is no cure for dementia, it is a condition which can be managed with sensitivity and compassion. By equipping ourselves with the right knowledge and tools to support those with the condition, we can help them to live well.”

George McNamara, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Society said: “People with dementia need to be supported to live well rather than worry that their friends and relatives will change the way they behave towards them. Increasing understanding of the condition is crucial if we are to cut down stigma and reduce people’s anxiety about dementia.

“One in three people over 65 will develop dementia, but a diagnosis does not mean that someone should be treated any differently. We are pleased support Bupa on this campaign to help break down the barriers that stand in the way of people with living a full life with the condition.”

The Talking Toolkit can be downloaded from bupa.co.uk/understanddementia