dementia-2016_scientifictracks-abstracts

42 / 46

Notes:
Page 67
Dementia 2016
September 29-October 01, 2016
Volume 6 Issue 5(Suppl) J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2016
ISSN:2161-0460 JADP, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
September 29-October 01, 2016 London, UK
5th International Conference on
Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
Daniella Arieli, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2016, 6:5(Suppl)
Talking with Dementia: The patterns and characteristics of a unique communication
Daniella Arieli
EmekYezreel College, Israel
This paper discusses the unique characteristics of communication with people with dementia. While most of the literature
on dementia identifies it as a non-communicative state, and focuses on the clinical aspects of dementia and the resulting
communication deficiencies, this current paper approaches the communication with people with dementia as a mutual "eye
to eye", meaningful and fruitful communication, both for the person with dementia as well as for the "healthy" partner to the
conversation. On the basis of the analysis of concrete situations and conversations I held with a relative who was hospitalized
at an institution for people with dementia, I point at four patterns of this unique communication: 1. A mutual attempt to
understand the experience of dementia; 2. The search for sequence and its absence; 3. Sliding between reality and illusion; 4.
Creating mutual space in/against the institutional space. The discussion of these communication patterns has the potential of
offering some tools to people that are coping with the challenge of maintaining the relationship with their relatives who were
diagnosed with dementia.