Elder Law

Alzheimer?s Patients Respond Well to Effective Communication

By Levin & Perconti

Studies have found that those who care for patients with Alzheimer?s disease should not talk to them like children. A report issued at the 2008 Alzheimer?s Association International Conference found that adults with Alzheimer?s in nursing homes who were talked to like children were more resistant to care. ?Elderspeak? is defined as overly caring, controlling and infantilizing and researchers have found that elderspeak actually hinders an Alzheimer?s patients ability to communicate. The study found that nursing home staff should be trained to effectively communicate with residents that have Alzheimer?s. The goals are for caregivers to have the opportunity to adjust their conversation with the changing communicative and cognitive abilities of their loved ones and for people with Alzheimer's to experience healthier participation in family discussions. To read the full story, click here.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 19, 2008 (boomark / email).