Hearing the Person With Dementia ─ Person-Centred Approaches to Communication for Families and Caregivers

Written both for families and professional caregivers, this book clearly explains what happens to communication as dementia progresses, how this may affect an individual's memory, language and senses, and how carers may need to adapt their approach to communication as a result. Advocating a person-centred approach to dementia care, the author describes methods of verbal and non-verbal communication that work, and strategies for communicating more effectively in specific day-to-day situations, such as at mealtimes, while helping the person with dementia to bathe or dress, and while out and about. Exercises at the end of each chapter encourage the carer to reflect on what they have learnt and apply it to their own circumstances, and guidelines for creating a life story with the person with dementia as a means of promoting good communication are also included.

This concise, practical book is essential reading for family caregivers, professional care staff, and all those who work with, or who are training to work with, people with dementia.

Bernie McCarthy is the founder of McCarthy Psychology Services, and is a registered clinical psychologist with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Melbourne University. He is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and the College of Clinical Psychologists. Bernie is a trainer in Dementia Care Mapping and conducts staff training in dementia care and other aspects of psychological wellbeing and culture change in health and aged care throughout Australia.