Threads of Gold ~ Part 7

Mom~ with son, Pierre, at his wedding ~ March 2017

There is nothing quite like a familiar, comforting voice, and those living with an advanced form of dementia should not be relegated to a life sentence of silence because we think they cannot understand us; or we cannot understand them. Communication is a gift from God; we can’t afford to limit what He can do with our interactions.

Why, even His creation speaks:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4) The Creator’s familiar voice surrounds us every day, and this gift of speech is worth sharing.

Visiting in The Home?

• Talk! Hearing loss does not increase with dementia
• Make eye contact; sit facing the person, rather than to the side; use body language
• Let them see your face-vision becomes more like tunnel vision, as dementia increases
• Ask questions that take yes or no answers
• Use one of their coherent words as a basis for conversation

I’ve been inclined to blame Dad’s side of the family for my ‘gift of gab,’ but Mom says it’s those ever-talking Comeaus! With a hearing problem for most of her life, I have been inspired by Mom to speak up. As a 4-H leader, she insisted that all Club members do a public speech or demonstration. Standing at the back of the gymnasium, she would characteristically state: “Speak up!” We were not too happy with those drills. Today, her eight children are grateful for her wisdom. Conversation is a gift that keeps giving; I hope you give today.