. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Apr 14.

Published in final edited form as: Res Gerontol Nurs. 2009 Jan;2(1):6–11. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20090101-04

Table 1.

Strategies to Optimize Communication with Persons with Dementia

Effects of Dementia	Strategy
Attention and concentration lapses	Conduct interview in place less distracting Redirect conversation
Decreased abstract reasoning	Restructure questions to concrete topics Use participant’s wording
Difficulty word finding	Allow ample time to respond If participants seem uncomfortable, then offer reassurance and help them
Memory loss	Use reminiscence Provide cues
Repeating phrases	Validate meaning Redirect conversation
Fatigue or anxiety	Monitor for signs Offer to stop interview