Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are challenging conditions for both the person with the disease and their caregivers. Even in early stages of the disease, communication between family caregivers and the people they support is difficult as the person’s brain changes in areas of memory, language comprehension, language production, judgment, and impulse control. Broken communication affects all aspects of life, and in the case of dementia, it’s always changing.

The National Association of State Veterans Homes, in partnership with AMVETS nation-wide and the AMVETS New York State Service Foundation, recognizes the challenges faced by professionals and family caregivers alike and continues to arm caregivers with the educational tools necessary to communicate better with veterans who have dementia.

Award-winning Occupational Therapist and Dementia Care Specialist, Heather McKay presents Dementia Care for America’s Heroes Part II: Communication. This training video is designed to help families and professionals better understand why communication changes with dementia and new strategies to improve our interactions with the veterans we support. In Part II, Heather and family caregivers share real stories about struggling with communication throughout the disease progression and new ideas to improve interactions when communication is a challenge. Professionals and family caregivers will learn specific communication techniques to make social visits more positive, doing things easier and dealing with distress safer and more effective.