Teaching Now Living- Part 18-Changing Vocabulary

Ellie had been saying "you know" for the last year to cover up her lack of memory.This was a new phrase in her vocabulary. When in a conversation it is not uncommon for Ellie to lose her train of thought and use this phrase as a cover. Recently she stopped saying "you know" and after a statement will say "and" instead and wait for another person to interject.

TIP: In the early stages of dementia, 25% of words are lost and in the middle stages closer to 50% of words are lost. As a caregiver we need to speak slowly not loudly, make the message clear, use short sentences, and be patient and not rush the individual while conversing with them. It will result in more concise thoughts and successful conversations with the patient.