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Updated: May 10, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Communicating with older people with dementia
1Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. kay.devries@vuw.ac.nz
Nursing Older People
|June 25, 2013
Summary
Effective communication with dementia patients requires assessing individual needs. Reminiscence interventions and life-story work are key tools for enhancing these vital communication skills through training.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Communication Sciences
- Dementia Care
Background:
- Communicating with individuals experiencing dementia presents unique challenges.
- Assessing specific, individual communication needs is crucial for effective interaction.
- Existing evidence supports the efficacy of education and skills training for improving communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prompt reflection on current knowledge and skills in communicating with older adults with dementia.
- To encourage the adoption of evidence-based communication strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on communication interventions for dementia.
- Emphasis on reminiscence interventions, memory books, and life-story work as assessment and skill-development tools.
Main Results:
- Reminiscence interventions, memory books, and life-story work are effective for assessing and developing communication skills.
- Structured education and skills training demonstrably enhance communication abilities.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals and caregivers should critically evaluate and enhance their communication competence with dementia patients.
- Implementing reminiscence-based approaches and targeted training can significantly improve communication outcomes.
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