What if your loved one with dementia doesn’t understand what you’re saying… but still understands how you make them feel?

This week Julie sits down with dementia educator and speech-language pathologist, Adria Thompson, to talk about what happens when communication starts to disappear. What do you do when someone asks the same question over and over, insists they want to “go home,” or suddenly refuses things they used to do without a second thought?

Adria explains why these behaviors may actually be communication, and why the answer isn’t always to explain, correct, or convince. Sometimes “You’re safe” can do more than another five-minute explanation. And sometimes the goal isn’t getting someone to understand your reality, but helping them feel safe in theirs.

Julie and Adria also talk about the changes that come with progressing dementia, including sensory changes, difficult personal care, and losing the desire to eat. They tackle some of the hardest decisions families face and why, sometimes, the right care can actually give someone a better quality of life.

Dementia may change how someone communicates, but it doesn’t mean they’ve stopped feeling, loving, or connecting.

Resources:

Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/

• A national resource for dementia education, caregiver support, local services, research, and its 24/7 Helpline.

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD): https://www.theaftd.org/

• Provides information, support, and resources specifically for individuals and families affected by frontotemporal degeneration (FTD).

Hilarity for Charity (HFC): https://wearehfc.org/

• Provides education, support, and resources for families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias, including caregiver respite grants.

National Council of Dementia Minds: https://dementiaminds.org/

• A nonprofit led by and for people living with dementia

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