Dementia, which is the fading of the ability to remember things, is more than just a loss of a name and date. The most trying part is the inability to express their feelings without spoken words. Their word retention sometimes becomes slippery, and they cannot seem to recover it. Eventually, many go silent and never speak again. However, if we focus on them, we sometimes see that they are using their entire bodies to communicate:

• Their eyes tell stories
• Their facial expressions show feelings
• Their hand movements try to reach us
• Their sounds carry meaning

Each person with dementia has their own way of communicating nonverbally or expertise in reading you. They could tell whether you are relaxed or nervous from your shoulders, the strain in your voice, even if you try to conceal it, or the sensitive little lines on your face that bother them so much. Generally, your calming attitude becomes their safety bar. Continue reading to understand how dementia affects a person’s ability to communicate nonverbally, as well as practical methods for communicating with them.

How does dementia affect communication?

Dementia disrupts the language centers of the brain. As a result, people with dementia start to face problems such as finding the right words, understanding complex sentences, and expressing their needs. Typically, as dementia worsens, even these nonverbal ways of communicating may become too hard.

Key ways dementia affects nonverbal communication:

• Facial expressions may become less clear or harder to read
• Gestures may become repetitive or puzzled
• Body language may not express what they’re trying to say
• A decline in eye contact or the opposite may occur
• New preferences concerning personal space may arise

Nevertheless, the brain regions that process emotions and identify familiar faces usually take longer to weaken. It happens bit by bit:

• In the early stages, a person with dementia has difficulty choosing the right words.
• In the middle stages, they find it hard to follow the conversations.
• In the later stages, the patient’s speech is limited to short phrases, yet their emotions are visible.

Consequently, a person with dementia may even forget your name but still cheer up when they see your smile. However, noticing early signs can help prevent symptoms from progressing. Staying in touch with professionals like a neuropsychiatrist, who specializes in how brain problems affect emotions, behavior, and thinking, is the best option throughout treatment.

What percentage of a person’s communication takes place nonverbally?

Studies show that around 55% of our message is transmitted through our body language, 38% through our tone of voice, and only 7% through the words that we say. That means we rarely say anything to each other verbally.

For a person with dementia, this is certainly positive news. There are many nonverbal ways to show love, comfort, and understanding, even when the words are nowhere to be found. For example:

• A gentle touch on the hand can say “You are doing great,” or “I’m there for you.” 
• A warm smile can communicate “I’m with you.” 

These connections are more important than we usually acknowledge.

Tips for communicating with seniors with dementia

Some of the effective tips you can use to communicate with seniors with dementia:

1. Use your whole body to communicate:

• Speak to them at their own eye level
• Stay in their field of vision with a real smile
• Use soft hand gestures to show or point
• Keep your body calm and relaxed

2. Make touch meaningful:

• Talk to them while holding their hand
• Pat them on the shoulder gently to help ease their fears
• Give hugs when their mood is down

Note that be sure to take it easy and approach them slowly so they are not taken by surprise

3. Create a peaceful communication setting:

Turn off the loud TV or radios when conversing with them. The elderly who have dementia often lose focus when there are many sound stimuli. Try to accomplish the following:

• Avoid loud noises
• Use soft, warm lighting
• Adorn a room with their familiar things and photos
• Play music that they once found appealing

4. Pay attention to your voice:

• Speak slowly and pronounce precisely
• Use a soft and caring tone
• Allow them time to process your message
• Don’t rush through the talk

5. Pay attention to their body language

• If they put food to the side instead of eating, then they might be full or not like the taste
• If they either walk back and forth or do not sit still, they might need to go to the bathroom
• If they take off their clothes, they might be feeling too hot or too cold
• If they stretch their hands toward you, that probably means that they want comfort, your touch, or attention

Help for caregivers of dementia patients

Having to watch someone with a memory disorder is among the most challenging for many caregivers or family members. It may seem like you are not just watching the memory go away, you are seeing a person you love fade away bit by bit. It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed, annoyed, emotional, helpless, and tired at the same time.

Remember these important facts:

• You are trying your best in the most difficult situations one can think of
• It is important to find meaningful moments of connection in small actions
• Taking care of yourself is not selfish but necessary
• Seek help! You don’t have to be alone in dealing with this. 

Many caregivers find comfort in talking to a psychiatrist about dementia and receive guidance specific to the patient’s condition. These professionals understand the emotions of both dementia patients and caregivers. They can help learn how to cope with caregiver burnout (or other problems). It’s also helpful to seek support from:

• Dementia support groups
• Caregiver support communities online
• Respite care services (temporarily take over caregiving duties)
• Family and friends 

Practical daily strategies

• Try to interpret their nonverbal signs for hunger, pain, and bathroom needs
• Create cue cards with their same needs and activities by using the photos
• Use simple actions repeatedly
• Celebrate all the small things that work out
• Do not take their mood swings personally

Modern solutions: online help is available!

One of the very optimistic developments today is that one can get professional help in one’s own home. Online services in psychiatry are so easy to use that you do not have to meet specialists in person or for a prescription. 

At GABA Telepsychiatry, a board-certified dementia psychiatrist provides comprehensive care to individuals with mental health issues, including dementia, and can provide expert psychiatric care while providing essential guidance to family or caregivers via a secure video platform. They can prescribe medications, offer therapy, and plan personalized treatment all through telehealth.

Benefits of online psychiatric care:

• No travel time or waiting rooms
• Access to specialists who might not be available in your area
• More flexible scheduling
• Privacy and comfort of your own space
• Often more affordable than in-person care (e.g., no traveling costs)
• Continuity of care through follow-up sessions
• No strain-related preparation (e.g., dementia patients often dread going to the doctor because they fear getting lost or having to make time for appointments as a caregiver)

The Takeaway

Dementia causes a shift in communication, but it never eliminates it entirely. By learning how nonverbal communication (e.g., the language of touch, expression, and presence) works, you can discover new ways to communicate with a person with dementia. 

Remember that every family has its own way of dealing with dementia, and what works for one might not work for another. Learning to be kind to yourself is useful even as you apprise your loved one, as they guide you into a new way of life. Moreover, remember that consulting professionals, support groups, or counselors isn’t giving up but a wise decision-making in one of life’s challenges.