Supporting Receptive Language Skills in Seniors with Alzheimer's

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers estimate that 42% of Americans over the age of 55 will eventually develop dementia. This means that by 2060, the number of new dementia cases per year will double.

You may have an elderly loved one, and after hearing these statistics, you may be concerned, especially if you've noticed a recent decline in their receptive language skills. Fortunately, science has come a long way, and we've developed several ways for seniors with cognitive issues to receive the help they need.

Keep reading to see how an assisted living community in North Richland Hills, TX, can support your beloved senior.

Predictable Daily Routines and Consistent Verbal Cues

Perhaps the most important part of providing Alzheimer's support is providing a predictable and consistent schedule. When those with dementia are presented with something unexpected, it can be really upsetting. As a result, you'll see a marked decline in their receptive language skills.

Assisted living communities can work against that by creating repeatable schedules. For example, daily life might look like this:

• Wake up
• Breakfast
• Morning exercises
• Lunch
• Activities
• Medications
• Dinner
• Sleep

Staff members will strive to use the same two to four-word phrases at transitions, as well as post visual schedules in the dining or activity areas. Predictability reduces the cognitive load of having to interpret new information, and this allows your loved one to connect words to actions through repetition.

One-on-One and Small-Group Conversations

One of the best communication tips for seniors with cognitive impairments is to shrink down the settings. You may already know how hard it is to keep up with a conversation when it's a large group; now imagine how challenging that is for someone with dementia.

In assisted living, they'll have plenty of opportunities for one-on-one or small-group conversations. Not only that, but the talks are slower and more focused, and the staff members will give people extra processing time, repetition, and simplified sentence structures.

All of the above come together for receptive understanding.

Communication-Focused Activities

Your elderly loved one will benefit from senior activities for communication in assisted living. There are certain ones tailored for cognitive help, such as:

• Reminiscence groups
• Story-reading
• Listening games
• Structured "current events"

These brain exercises may utilize familiar, personally meaningful content such as old photographs, favorite songs, or hometown stories. These give context that makes words easier to understand.

An added benefit is that the activities can trigger long-forgotten memories. This can have an overwhelmingly positive effect on seniors, which can then help improve their language skills.

Individualized Strategies

Every senior is different, and they deserve to be treated according to their unique circumstances, personalities, and needs.

Tackling issues with language skills isn't a one-size-fits-all thing, and assisted living staff members know this. They'll take their time to learn about each older adult, treating them with kindness and patience.

More importantly, they'll do a thorough assessment and make personalized recommendations, such as speech therapy for seniors. From there, the strategies can be integrated into routine care, and you can even support them better with these methods.

Environmental Design That Reduces Noise and Sensory Overload

As we've said earlier, communicating in large groups is difficult, and so is doing so in a loud environment. When seniors have to talk in less-than-ideal situations, it can exacerbate their language issues, and this can cause them to withdraw and be hesitant about trying.

Assisted living communities are specifically designed to make residents comfortable. They're mindful about acoustics, meaning that there are things like carpeted hallways and quiet dining rooms.

In addition, there's sensible lighting and calm spaces that boost comprehension. Conversation areas are purposely positioned away from TVs or busy corridors, too.

Visual Supports and Multimodal Cues

Receptive language is strongly supported by pairing words with visual cues. These can be:

• Labeled drawers
• Photographs with names
• Pictogram schedules
• Demonstration of actions

Multimodal prompts can help seniors map spoken words to concrete objects or actions. When they're struggling to find a word or phrase, you or staff members can gently point to things to see if that's what they're thinking of. Or your loved one can use these visual cues when words don't come to them, so that communication isn't broken.

Sensory and Music-Based Interventions

The beauty of emotional wellness activities is that they can address several aspects of senior health. As suggested by the name, these activities can help improve your loved one's mood. And some can assist with physical activity, which is vital for good health in old age.

Plus, these activities are beneficial for brain health in seniors. Things like music, rhythm, and sensory cues can access language networks in ways that pure speech sometimes cannot. Your beloved senior can have fun while exercising their language skills through activities such as:

• Sing-alongs
• Rhythmic call-and-response
• Pairing a familiar smell with a mealtime announcement

Technology and Assistive Devices

Don't underestimate the power of technology and assistive devices, especially for older adults who are in cognitive decline. They make life easier for everyone involved, and you can count on assisted living communities to take advantage of these tools.

They don't have to be super complicated either. You might find the following in the community:

• Captioned TVs
• Tablets with large-text picture apps
• Voice-recorded reminders
• Personal hearing-assist systems

All of these can make spoken language clearer and provide repetition on demand. This can reduce stress and strain on both staff members and residents.

Help Your Senior With Their Receptive Language Skills

There are many tips in this article that you can already use regarding receptive language skills in your loved one. But there's no shame in asking for more help.

A move into an assisted living community can be beneficial, as they'll be in an environment that's designed for their success. Plus, they'll be well taken care of by excellent staff, and they'll also make new friends with fellow residents. 

Morada North Richland Hills offers residences with safety and handicap features, as well as individual climate control systems for our residents' comfort. Want to hear more about assisted living in North Richland Hills, TX? Then get in touch with us today.