Tips for Effective Alzheimer’s Communication

Alzheimer’s disease presents many challenges, and communication is a big one. Despite the challenges, you can communicate effectively with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. Consider these tips provided by the Mayo Clinic staff:

• Speak clearly. Introduce yourself. Speak in a clear, straightforward manner. • Show respect. Avoid secondary baby talk and diminutive phrases, such as

“good girl.” Don’t assume that your loved one can’t understand you, and don’t talk about your loved one as if he or she weren’t there. • Stay present. Maintain eye contact, and stay near your loved one so that he or she will know that you’re listening and trying to understand. • Avoid distractions. Communication may be difficult—if not impossible— against a background of competing sights and sounds. • Keep it simple. Use short sentences and plain words. As the disease progresses, yes-no questions may work best, and only one question at a time is best. Break down requests into single steps. • Don’t interrupt. It may take longer than you expect for your loved one to process and respond. Avoid criticizing, hurrying and correcting. • Use visual cues. Sometimes gestures or other visual cues promote better understanding than words alone. Rather than simply asking if your loved one needs to use the toilet, for example, take him or her to the toilet and point to it. • Don’t argue. Your loved one’s reasoning and judgment will decline over time. To spare anger and agitation, don’t argue with your loved one. • Stay calm. Even when you’re frustrated, keep your voice gentle. Your nonverbal cues, including the tone of your voice, can send a clearer message than what you actually say.

Online Resources: Alzheimer’s Association – alz.org Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – alzfdn.org BrightFocus Foundation – brightfocus.org Caregiver ACTION Network – caregiveraction.org National Institute on Aging – nia.nih.gov WebMD – webmd.com

Skilled Nursing

AUSTIN

Austin Retirement and Nursing Center 6909 Burnet Ln 78757 512–452–5719 Bridgemoor Transitional Care 16219 Ranch Rd 620 N. 78717 512–520–1834 Brodie Ranch Nursing & Rehab Center 2101 Frate Barker Rd 78748 512–444–5627 Brush Country Nursing and Rehabilitation 6500 Brush Country Rd 78749 512–892–5774 Gracy Woods Nursing Center 12021 Metric Blvd 78758 512–228–3300 Gracy Woods II Living Center 12042 Bittern Hollow 78758 512–730–2100 Heartland Health Care Center 11406 Rustic Rock Dr 78750 512–335–5028 Heritage Park Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center 2806 Real St 78722 512–474–1411 Legend Oaks Healthcare & Rehabilitation 11020 Dessau Rd 78754 512–873–2244 Monte Siesta Nursing and Rehab LP 4501 Dudmar Dr 78735 512–892–1131 Onion Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1700 Onion Creek Pkwy 78748 512–291–4900 Park Bend Health Center 2122 Park Bend Dr 78758 512–836–9777 Rapid Recovery Center 16219 Ranch Rd 620 North, 78717 512–520–1834 Regency Village Care Center 6500 Brush Country Rd 78749 512–892–5774 Riverside Nursing and Rehab Center 6801 E Riverside Dr 78741 512–247–9000 Senior Care of West Oaks 3200 W. Slaughter Lane 78748 512–282–0141 Southpark Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 9801 South 1st St 78748 512–292–3071 Southwood Care Center 3759 Valley View Rd 78704 512–443–3436 Stonebriar Nursing and Rehab Center 110 East Live Oak 78704 512–444–3511 Stonebridge Health Center 11127 Circle Dr 78736 512–288–8844 The Arbour At Westminster Manor 4100 Jackson Ave 78731 512–454–4711 Walnut Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation 3509 Rogge Lane 78723 512–926–2070 Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Duval 5301 Duval Rd 78727 512–345–1805

BASTROP

Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 430 Old Austin Hwy 78602 512–321–3527 Bastrop Nursing Center 400 Old Austin Hwy 78602 512–321–2529 Silver Pines Nursing and Rehab LP 188 Old Austin Hwy 78602 512–321–6220

BEE CAVE

Park Manor 14058 Bee Cave Pkwy, Bldg B 78738 512–872–8170

BERTRAM

Bertram Nursing and Rehab Center 540 Hwy 29 East 78605 512–355–2116

BLANCO

Live Oak Medical Center 618 Live Oak St 78606 830–833–4567

BURNET

Oaks Nursing Center 507 West Jackson St 78611 512–756–6044

CEDAR PARK

Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness Suites 1301 Cottonwood Creek Tr 78613 737–757–3100 Cottonwood Creek Nursing and Rehab 1500 Cottonwood Creek Tr 78613 512–259–4259 New Hope Manor 1623 West New Hope Dr 78613 512–259–3999 Sagebrook Health and Rehab 901 Discovery Blvd 78613 512–259–9993

DRIPPING SPRINGS

Hill Country Nursing and Rehab 1505 West Hwy 290 78620 512–858–5624

ELGIN

Elgin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1373 North Ave C 78621 512–285–2457

GEORGETOWN

Estrella Oaks Rehab and Care Center 4011 Williams Dr 78628 512–868–2700 Park Place Assisted Living 101 FM 971 78626 512–868–6275 Park Place Care Center 121 Fm 971 78626 512–868–6200 The Wesleyan at Scenic 2001 Scenic Dr 78626 512–863–9511

GRANGER

Granger Villa 800 North Commerce St 76530 512–859–2800

KINGSLAND

Kingsland Hills Care Center 3727 R.R. 1431 West 78639 325–388–4538

KYLE

Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehab 1640 Fairway 78640 512–268–1003

LLANO

Hill Country Healthcare Center 507 East Green St 78643 325–247–4115 Llano Nursing & Rehab Center 800 West Haynie 78643 325–247–4194

LOCKHART

Chisolm Tr Nursing and Rehab Center 107 North Medina 78644 512–398–5213 Parkview Nursing and Rehab Center 1501 South Main St 78644 512–398–2362

LULING

Hillcrest Manor Nursing and Rehab Center 208 Maple St 78648 830–875–5219 Luling Care Center 501 West Austin St 78648 830–875–5628 Oak Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation 1105 North Magnolia 78648 830–875–5606

MANCHACA

The Villa 2504 Bliss Spillar Rd 78652 512–282–1144

MARBLE FALLS

Granite Mesa Health Center 1401 Max Copeland Dr 78654 830–693–0022

PFLUGERVILLE

Pflugerville Care Center 521 South Heatherwilde Blvd 78660 512–670–5800 Pflugerville Nursing and Rehab Center 104 Rex Kerwin Court 78660 512–251–3915 Continued

Skilled Nursing

ROUND ROCK

Bel Air at Teravista 4105 Teravista Club Dr 78665 512–310–3700 Hearthstone Health Center 401 Oakwood Blvd 78681 512–388–7494 Park Valley Inn Health Center 17751 Park Valley Dr 78681 512–218–6000 San Gabriel Rehab and Care Center 4100 College Park Dr 78665 512–334–8000 Trinity Care Center 1000 East Main St 78664 512–634–3000

SAN MARCOS

Hays Nursing & Rehab Center 1900 Medical Pkwy 78666 512–396–1888 Regent Care Center of San Marcos 1351 Sadler 78666 512–805–5000 San Marcos Rehab and Health Care Center 1600 North Interstate Hwy 35 78666 512–353–5026

SMITHVILLE

Towers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 907 Garwood 78957 512–237–4606

TAYLOR

SPJST Skilled Nursing and Rehab 501 East Lake Dr 76574 512–352–6337

WIMBERLY

Deer Creek of Wimberley 555 Ranch Rd 3237 78676 512–847–5540