Reducing the Burden of Dementia by Using the Talking Mats® Framework to Help People with Dementia and their Carers Communicate More Effectively

Abstract

Communication is the most fundamental requirement for human interaction. As dementia advances through the different stages of the illness, communication between the person with dementia and their carers becomes more problematic. This paper discusses the importance, and defines the problem, of communication for people with dementia and their carers. It then outlines a seminal research project which determined how effective Talking Mats, an innovative communication tool, is for people at different stages of dementia. Additional Talking Mats projects are then summarised. They demonstrate how the use of Talking Mats can reduce the burden of dementia, including how Talking Mats helps decision making and self-management for couples living with dementia and how Talking Mats can be used positively by staff in a long-stay hospital. Publications by other researchers are also referred to. Finally, this paper offers implications for clinical practice and policy.