6 Tips for Communicating With Clients Facing Cognitive Decline

Good communication skills can enhance quality interactions with older adults and others who are dealing with cognitive decline or related problems.

As a music therapist for more than 20 years, I’ve made a career out of working with clients, families, and health care institutions with Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of neurological challenges, and I lean on a handful of basic ideas for engaging with individuals in a positive and productive way.

When interacting with people with cognitive challenges, here are some best practices you may find helpful:

1. Listen to what the client is saying.

Be careful not to impose your own agenda on the conversation.

By really hearing what people are saying or trying to say, you can better understand their needs.

2. Be patient.

This may mean repeating yourself as well as repeating what you think they said, so information is clear to all parties, but be conscious of doing this in a way that is not demeaning to the clients.

3. Follow the client’s lead, verbally and non-verbally.

Let the client lead the conversation and try to understand both the big picture and the details around the client’s needs that will serve the client and the client’s care system best.

4. Match the client’s energy level, including volume.

This will help you avoid being overwhelming or demeaning.

4. Opt to meet with the client in-person or virtually.

Having an in-person conversation, or using a Zoom or FaceTime video call, can be beneficial in many ways. That gives people with cognitive challenges a chance to see the faces of the people they’re interacting with.