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Educational Activity

Effective Communication Strategies to Help Patients and Caregivers Cope With Moderate-to-Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Jan Dougherty, RN, MS

Published: March 25, 2015

Article Abstract

As the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases, clinicians must learn to educate patients and their caregivers about the communication problems associated with different stages of illness. Patients with AD will experience varying degrees of language impairments, concentration problems, and difficulty expressing themselves. Caregivers can learn to avoid common communication mistakes, such as correcting, reasoning with, and arguing with the person with AD. By equipping caregivers with strategies to aid verbal and nonverbal communication, clinicians can improve the interactions between patients with AD and their caregivers and lessen frustration on both sides.

From the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.

This CME activity is expired. For more CME activities, visit cme.psychiatrist.com.
Find more articles on this and other psychiatry and CNS topics:
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders

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References