Caregiver facilitative communication and dementia care recipient patterns: Insights from in-home care video analysis

This study focuses on how family caregivers can use supportive communication strategies to better engage and interact with persons living with dementia (care recipient). This study aimed to examine how caregiver facilitative communication followed by the responses of care recipient during 75 video home care interactions.

Secondary analysis of video observations from the parent study (blinded for review) was conducted focusing on how caregiver facilitative communication followed by care recipient responses over short time window (5 to 60 s). Care recipient responses were categorized as engaging (responsive and collaborative responses), challenging (nonresponsive, resistive, withdrawing, and critical responses), or neutral (either engaging or challenging depending on the context). Odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals, p-values, and Yule's Q statistics were used.

The results showed that care recipients responded differently to caregiver facilitative communication depending on the time window (range: Odds ratio = 0.37 - 2.23, p < 0.001 - 0.049, Yule's Q = |0.060 - 0.463|). Following caregiver facilitative communication, care recipients used more engaging nonverbal communication immediately and more engaging verbal communication later. Care recipients used less challenging and neutral communication following caregiver facilitative communication.

Family caregivers should be encouraged to use facilitative communication techniques, as they promote more positive interactions. Healthcare providers can educate family caregivers about the communication abilities of persons living with dementia and how to incorporate facilitative communication in daily care. Using a balanced combination of verbal and nonverbal facilitative communication can create a more supportive and engaging environment for persons living with dementia.