John Schall:

When you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, one of the biggest challenges is learning to adapt the way you communicate and engage with them as the disease progresses. According to a survey we conducted, this is one of the biggest fears for caregivers, second only to the patient’s health and physical decline.

While this fear is understandable, caregivers are resourceful and have found numerous ways to overcome this obstacle. Using cues like facial expressions and body language can help you gauge the needs of your loved one, and performing activities together, like going through old photos, can also be helpful. In this video series, caregivers share their frustrations with their ability to communicate, as well as different ways they’ve found to stay connected with their loved ones. Some of their advice may be helpful to you.