Part 4: From Awareness to Support
Table of Contents
Now that you’ve practiced noticing what’s happening around you – both when someone may benefit from support and when they’re having a good day – the next step is to focus on how you communicate in those moments.
Awareness gives you the what to notice; communication gives you the how to respond. Even small choices in tone, pacing, or body language can make the difference between helping someone feel supported or overwhelmed.
Review: Key Tips for Supportive Communication
Let’s review some of the things we learned about Dementia Supportive Communication in the introductory course, Dementia Supportive Communities: Everyday Skills that Make a Difference. If you would like a more in-depth reminder, feel free to go back in that course to Session 4, Your Dementia Supportive Toolkit.
Supportive communication starts with empathy and patience. When speaking with someone who may be living with dementia – or anyone feeling confused, anxious, or distracted – remember the SPEAK acronym:
Avoid jargon, acronyms, metaphors, or jokes
Give extra time, don’t rush, don’t interrupt.
Speak TO the person, not ABOUT them.
Smile, make eye contact, and use open gestures.
Warmth goes a long way.
And most importantly FOCUS ON FEELINGS, NOT FACTS
These skills don’t just help when things are difficult, they also help you build trust and connection over time.
The resources below, from Alzheimer Society of Canada, provide a useful guide on the best words and phrases to use when talking to and about people living with dementia. These recommendations align well with Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories (AS AB/NT). However, it should be noted that at AS AB/NT. we use the term care partner, to emphasize and recognize the role that the person living with dementia plays in their own care; we also avoid the word behaviour.