Communication in personal care

Principles

Interaction context: To help orient a person to an interaction or task, a staff member provides information about time, place, person and event, allaying fear or stress.
Task context: Describe and explain each step in a task or activity to guide a person with dementia through what is happening.

Before starting a care routine ask: What is the person doing? Are they involved in another activity? What mood are they in? Explain the activity about to take place.
Allow a person time to adjust and reinforce the purpose of the activity by using keywords.
Use non-verbal communication appropriate to particular activities such as checking water temperature when bathing or positioning a person to face outwards from the shower for privacy.
Use the person’s name and explain who you are.
Identify keywords and key emotive words in any care activity and repeat them.
Use non-word sounds to convey ideas and provide a sense of security.
Use appropriate and constant tone, pitch, volume and rate of speech. Use short sentences and discuss one step of a care activity at a time.

Reviewed 22 February 2016