The Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Speech and Language Therapy team are sharing helpful guidance on communicating with people with dementia and feeding tips for those with swallowing difficulties.
Dementia, which effects over 670,000 people in England, is an umbrella term used to describe a range of symptoms associated with damage to the brain.
Dementia may affect a person's ability to speak clearly and fluently because of changes to the muscles that allow us to form sounds and some people might have difficulty understanding and using words and sentences, this is called dysphasia.
The initiative by the trust is to mark part of Dementia Action Week this week (17-23).
Stephanie Brett, Speech and Language Therapist, said:
“If someone you care about has dementia, then adapting how you communicate will have many benefits, including being able to better understand the needs of the person you care about.
"A few small changes can make a big difference. You could try to use short, clear sentences, sticking to one subject at a time and repeating back what the person has said to you to double check its meaning with them."
Some people with dementia also struggle with swallowing difficulties. Difficulties in swallowing may arise from a number of medical causes. In dementia they may be caused by damage to parts of the brain that co-ordinate the muscles responsible for swallowing.
Speech and language therapists assess problems with swallowing and communication and they can offer support through various exercises such as repeating words, naming items in pictures and showing patients techniques that strengthen the muscles of the mouth, dietary advice and changes to medication.
Katherine Willing, Speech and Language Therapist, said:
"Some people also have difficulties with swallowing which impact on people’s ability to socialise and can lead to physical problems such as choking and food going into the lungs.
"We can assess the extent of these difficulties using a variety of swallow tests, and there are minor changes that families and carers can make to help improve eating and swallowing for someone with dysphagia."
Amy Cogan, Speech and Language Therapist, added:
"Providing support and advice to families and carers is extremely rewarding and even the smallest change can make a huge difference.
"In light of this we have created these short videos to show families and carers some simple methods to facilitate better communication and to make mealtimes safer and more enjoyable."
The videos produced by the Speech and Language Therapy Team are available on the IOW NHS Trust website.
Wipe Out: Former Cowes Public Toilet Site Set To Become Café
Low-Income Households On Isle Of Wight To Benefit From £1.1 Million Household Support Fund
Amazing Isle Of Wight: Listener Photo Gallery
Islanders Gather To Commemorate Fallen Heroes For Ryde Remembrance Sunday
Isle Of Wight Dog Controls Could Be Reinstated To Prevent Anti-Social Behaviour
Isle Of Wight Affordable Housing Scheme Set To Come Under Spotlight
Intensified Focus To Tackle Knife Crime On Isle Of Wight
Falcons Fly Again At Robin Hill
Woman Handed Criminal Behaviour Order Following Continuous Issues In Newport
Brading Residents Set For Tax Increase 'To Keep Everything Running'
Islanders Urged To Lock Up Following Freshwater, Newport And Arreton Burglaries
Cowes Enterprise College Becomes First Isle Of Wight Secondary School To Achieve PEACH Gold
Shanklin's Crab Inn Refurbishment Plans Given Green Light
Seaview Parking Restrictions Approved
From Calbourne To The Clouds: Cobalt Spectrum LED Mood Lighting installed On refurbished Finnair Embraer Fleet
Isle Of Wight Honours Young Pilots Killed 80 Years Ago
Grounded Yacht Gets Overnight Help from Cowes Lifeboat
Ryde Waterside Pool Refurbishment To Continue With Solar Panels
Isle Of Wight Insurers Support For Mountbatten Enables Purchase Of Vital Equipment
Island MP Criticises Government’s Budget For Increasing Pressure On Health And Social Care Providers
