Connecting with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s requires patience, understanding, and thoughtful communication strategies. As memory and cognitive abilities change, so must our approach to conversation and interaction. At Hovi Care, we’ve spent over three decades developing effective communication techniques that preserve dignity and strengthen bonds between families and their loved ones with memory conditions. This guide will help you understand the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s communication and provide practical approaches to maintain meaningful connections through every stage of the journey.
Understanding Hovi Care’s approach to memory care
At the heart of Hovi Care’s philosophy is the belief that elderly services should be provided “from a family to a family.” This approach is particularly important when supporting those living with Alzheimer’s and other memory conditions. For more than 30 years, our Finnish-rooted, family-run company has developed evidence-based communication methods that honour each person’s individuality while acknowledging the challenges that come with cognitive decline.
Our memory care environments are specifically designed to support effective communication. We recognise that people living with Alzheimer’s process information differently, and our care teams are trained to adjust their communication techniques accordingly. The family-oriented approach means we treat each person in our care with the same respect and consideration we would give our own family members.
Communication isn’t just about exchanging words—it’s about creating connection, conveying respect, and maintaining relationships. When supporting someone with Alzheimer’s, these principles become even more essential, as traditional communication paths may become challenging.
Why is communication different with Alzheimer’s patients?
Alzheimer’s disease progressively affects the brain regions responsible for language processing, memory, and social awareness. This creates unique communication challenges that require specific approaches. At Hovi Care, our individualised care approach recognises that each person’s communication abilities will change as the condition progresses.
People living with Alzheimer’s may experience:
- Difficulty finding the right words or following conversations
- Increased reliance on non-verbal communication
- Challenges with abstract concepts or complex instructions
- Frustration when unable to express needs or feelings
- Confusion about time, place, or context
Our memory-friendly environments are designed with these challenges in mind. Clear signage, simplified layouts, and familiar surroundings help reduce confusion and support better communication. We’ve found that when people feel secure in their environment, communication becomes more natural and effective.
Understanding these differences allows Hovi Care to create personalised communication strategies for each individual. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why our approach always begins with getting to know the person behind the condition—their preferences, history, and unique personality traits.
Creating a safe and calm communication environment
The physical environment plays a crucial role in facilitating effective communication with someone living with Alzheimer’s. Hovi Care’s spaces are specifically designed to be cosy, stimulating, and secure—three elements that significantly impact communication quality.
Our environments incorporate elements from nature through our Green Care approach. Natural materials, plants, and nature-inspired designs create calming spaces that evoke positive recollections and encourage conversation. These familiar elements from nature can trigger memories and provide comfortable conversation starting points.
When communicating with someone living with Alzheimer’s, consider these environmental factors:
- Reduce background noise (turn off televisions or radios when conversing)
- Ensure adequate lighting so facial expressions are clearly visible
- Choose comfortable, familiar settings for important conversations
- Minimise distractions in the immediate environment
- Maintain a calm, unhurried atmosphere
At Hovi Care, our spaces feature clear sightlines, simplified navigation, and thoughtful design elements that reduce anxiety and confusion. This supportive environment creates the foundation for more successful interactions and allows the person to focus on the conversation rather than being distracted or confused by their surroundings.
Technology also plays a role in our communication-friendly environments. We incorporate specialised lighting systems that support natural circadian rhythms, reducing sundowning effects that can hamper evening communication. Additionally, our noise-monitoring systems help maintain optimal sound levels for clear conversation.
Family-oriented communication techniques
Hovi Care’s family-to-family approach is central to our communication philosophy. We believe that maintaining dignity and respecting each person’s unique needs and wishes creates the foundation for meaningful connection. These principles can be applied by families and caregivers in daily interactions.
Effective family-oriented communication techniques include:
- Addressing the person by their preferred name
- Speaking face-to-face and at eye level
- Using a warm, pleasant tone of voice
- Keeping questions simple and providing limited choices
- Giving the person time to process information and respond
- Focusing on feelings rather than factual accuracy
Our experience shows that validation communication works particularly well—acknowledging emotions even when the facts may be confused. For example, if someone is looking for a long-deceased parent, rather than correcting them, acknowledge their feelings: “You miss your mother. Tell me about her.”
Family memories and shared experiences often remain accessible even as other memories fade. Using reminiscence techniques that draw on these long-term memories can create moments of connection when other communication methods fail. Photo albums, familiar songs, or discussing cherished family traditions can spark conversation and engagement.
We encourage families to adapt their expectations and find joy in new ways of connecting. Sometimes, sitting together in comfortable silence or engaging in simple activities side-by-side can create meaningful moments of togetherness that transcend the need for words.
Technology-supported communication methods
At Hovi Care, we thoughtfully incorporate various technologies that enhance communication with people living with Alzheimer’s. These tools can bridge communication gaps and create new opportunities for connection.
Music therapy technologies have proven particularly effective. Customised playlists of familiar songs from a person’s younger years can evoke memories and emotions when words alone cannot reach them. We’ve observed remarkable moments where people who struggle with verbal communication become animated and engaged when hearing favourite music from their past.
Visual communication technologies also play an important role:
- Digital photo frames displaying rotating family images
- Tablet applications with simplified interfaces for viewing family videos
- Video calling platforms that connect families across distances
- Sensory stimulation technologies that encourage non-verbal engagement
For families separated by distance, video communication can maintain connections better than telephone calls alone, as the visual component provides additional context and emotional cues that help the person with Alzheimer’s follow the interaction more easily.
At Hovi Care, our rehabilitation and therapy technologies are selected not just for their clinical benefits but also for how they support communication. Interactive systems that respond to movement or touch can create engaging experiences that don’t rely heavily on verbal skills, allowing for meaningful interactions even as language abilities decline.
We recommend families explore memory and communication apps specifically designed for people living with dementia. These can provide structured activities that stimulate conversation and cognitive engagement in an accessible format.
Building trust through consistent communication patterns
Trust forms the foundation of effective communication with someone living with Alzheimer’s. At Hovi Care, we build this trust through transparent operations and consistent interaction patterns—principles that families can apply in their daily communications.
Consistency is particularly reassuring for people living with Alzheimer’s. When communication follows familiar patterns, it creates a sense of security and predictability. This might include:
- Starting conversations with the same greeting
- Maintaining consistent daily routines and discussing them in the same way
- Using familiar phrases and references
- Approaching physical care with the same verbal cues each time
- Being consistent in your emotional tone and body language
Our experience shows that transparent communication, even when discussing difficult topics, helps maintain trust. While we adjust our communication style to the person’s cognitive abilities, we avoid patronising language or speaking about the person as if they weren’t present.
When communication becomes challenging, Hovi Care’s approach emphasises patience and emotional attunement over verbal precision. Often, the feeling behind a conversation matters more than the specific words exchanged. Taking time to observe non-verbal cues and responding to the emotion being expressed can maintain connection even when words fail.
For families navigating communication challenges, remember that moments of connection may look different than they once did. A shared smile, holding hands, or simply sitting together in comfortable companionship can be meaningful forms of communication that build and maintain trust.
The journey of communicating with someone living with Alzheimer’s requires adaptability and compassion. By creating supportive environments, using family-oriented techniques, incorporating helpful technologies, and maintaining consistent patterns, meaningful connection remains possible at every stage. At Hovi Care, we continue to develop our understanding of effective communication strategies, always guided by our core belief that elderly care is provided from a family to a family—with warmth, dignity, and respect.
