title: Communicating with individuals with Alzheimer's disease: examination of recommended strategies.
abstract: Meaningful conversation with individuals in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been considered difficult if not impossible. Limiting communication to simple concrete subjects and closed-ended questions is frequently recommended. Thirty-five 30 minute conversations with individuals with advanced AD (mean Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] = 10) were transcribed and the interactions examined. No significant differences in length or relevance of response by type of question was found indicating that subjects were able to respond to open-ended questions. Use of broad opening statements or questions, establishing commonalities, speaking as equals, and sharing of self-facilitated expression of feeling; recognizing themes with salience for the individual helped to maintain the discussion.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton 33431, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tappen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams-Burgess
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edelstein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Touhy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fishman
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research