Dementia and Communication: Supporting family carers in Wales and England

This project evaluates research evidence and new data to identify effective interventions for increasing and sustaining well-being in people living with dementia (PLwDs), particularly (in line with the Welsh Government's Dementia Action Plan, 2018-2022) the 45,000 such people in Wales. Previous research in the field has found that most communication training-interventions for dementia carers focus on pragmatic aspects of communication (eliminating distractions; speaking in simple sentences, etc), not encompassing the dynamics of relationships or accommodating other people's perspectives.

The project reports on what prevents family carers from achieving their aspirations in communicating with PLwDs. Relevant language theories in the dementia context are used to model better ways to support communication between PLwDs and their family carers. Additionally, this project evaluates how family carers operationalize 'mentalization' in communication after having attended the communication course 'Empowered Conversations' (Age UK Salford), and considers what modifications to that course might facilitate its extension into Wales.