Communicating with patients who have dementia.

It was not until the 1980s that significant research was carried out on brain disorders. Lack of understanding of dementia has perhaps been the reason for the over-emphasis on physical care, and a failure to see these patients as people with feelings, beliefs and values. Three therapeutic techniques to help practitioners increase and improve communication with people who have dementia are described. It may be that communication is the key to understanding and resolving behaviour disturbances.