1Client retention will increase 15% as home health aides communicate in ways that better support their clients who have dementia in the next 6 months
von Amy Pluto
1. Maintain eye contact
2. Use an adult voice
3. Speak to client in a respectful, non-patronizing way
3.1. Use a calm tone
3.2. Use a friendly tone
3.3. Use client's name
3.4. Don't use complex language
3.5. Ask open-ended questions
3.6. Gently remind client of the topic of the conversation if necessary
3.7. When in a group setting, involve client in the conversation
3.8. Validate client's feelings
3.9. Acknowledge client's achievements
3.10. Give client time to respond
4. Offer client choices
4.1. Offer two choices
4.2. Offer simple choices
4.3. Offer appropriate choices
4.3.1. Align choices to client's needs
4.3.2. Align choices to client's capabilities
4.3.3. Align choices to client's preferences
4.3.4. Use visual cues
4.3.4.1. For example, holding up the choices so client can visualize the choice
4.4. Give client time to make a decision
4.5. After client has made a choice, acknowledge it and express appreciation for their decision
4.6. Offer client choices in everyday activities
5. Respond supportively when client says something that is not accurate
5.1. Maintain eye contact
5.2. Validate client's emotions
5.2.1. For example, if client expresses sadness about something that didn't happen, say,"I understand that you're feeling sad."
5.3. Go along with the story
5.3.1. For example, if client says they visited a place that they didn't, say, "That sounds like it was a wonderful trip."
5.4. If client is fixated on a particular topic, redirect client's attention
5.4.1. Gently introduce a different topic
5.4.2. Gently introduce a different activity