Communication can frustrate a person with Alzheimer’s disease and his or her family and caregivers, but there are ways to help, says Katrina Skeval, chief program officer for the Alzheimer’s Association Central New York chapter.
Patience and respect are the keys to strategies like speaking clearly to the patient, waiting for an answer, asking questions one at a time and not correcting the patient’s faulty memory or speech. Skeval also recommends remaining aware of the patient’s changing abilities and seeking out the free resources offered by groups like the Alzheimer’s Association. The help hotline is available at 800-272-3900, 24 hours a day.
Also on this week’s show: how climate affects infectious diseases, plus obstructive sleep apnea in children.
Join us for HealthLink on Air this Sunday, November 8, at 9 p.m. on WRVO.
