Middle Stage

The middle stage brings a greater decline in the person's cognitive and functional abilities. Not only will he be unable to find the words for objects, he may even forget the names of friends and family. This can be very distressing for him, but it is a predictable aspect of memory loss associated with dementia.

At this stage, the person with dementia may be trying to interpret a world that no longer makes sense to him because his brain is interpreting information incorrectly. Sometimes the person with dementia and those around him will misinterpret each other's attempts at communication. These misunderstandings can be upsetting and frustrating for the person with dementia and caregivers. However, there are ways to make it easier to understand each other.

Non-verbal communication becomes increasingly important

Watch for behaviour changes, body language and non-verbal signs that may be used to express a feeling or indicate physical discomfort, in which case you may wish to contact the person's family doctor.