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Why Language matters More than we realise

Be honest, when you hear the word dementia, what comes to mind? A host of people often think memory loss, confusion or the idea of personality gradually changing. It is often thought about in a sad frightful way. What we do not stop to think about is something more subtle but just as powerful. The language we use to talk about dementia and how that could make one feel. Words are not just labels used. They shape how we think or feel and can affect how we treat other people, sometimes without realising it. The way we speak can either support an individual’s dignity and self-worth or slowly take these away.

This blog aims to bring to the fore the subtle influence of language whether positive or negative in the support of persons living with dementia. It looks at how certain ways of speaking about dementia can either create a positive feeling which enhances wellbeing or a negative feeling which may create stigma, affect care and influence how people living with dementia are seen in everyday life.