The Impact of negativity in Communication
To fully appreciate the impact of negative language, it is necessary to move beyond theory and consider lived experience.
Imagine an older woman who has always valued her independence, enjoyed socialising, and taken pride in her appearance. Now living with dementia and struggles to remember recent events and occasionally needs assistance with personal care. When she hesitates, a caregiver says, “You’re being difficult again.” “Why have you forgotten how to put your lipstick on?”
She may not remember the exact words, but she feels the judgement. It lingers. The next time care is offered, she resists not because she does not need help, but because the interaction no longer feels safe.
Now let’s consider an alternative in the use of positive language: “It’s okay, we can take this slowly together.” Though the task remains the same, here, the experience is transformed. She feels she is no longer a problem and would be more amenable to care interventions.
The question then is, how can the problem of negative language be overcome?
Research suggest that this requires intentional as well as reflective practice by professionals. Key strategies to imbibe into practice to include:
- Adopting validation approaches, which prioritise emotional meaning over factual correction
- The use of supportive and inclusive language: avoiding language that may be patronising and critical of the person living with dementia.
- Paying attention to non-verbal communication and interactions: ensuring that one’s tone of speech and body language align with the verbal messages being voiced and being mindful of the notion ‘action speak louder than words’.
- Engaging in reflective practice and supervision, to identify and challenge derogatory habitual language use
- Promoting organisational cultures that value relational care alongside task completion
Importantly, these strategies should not be viewed as optional enhancements but as core competencies in dementia care