Case Study

Charles is a 70 old man who was diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago. Since his diagnosis, his wife, Hilary has been his carer. Charles has gradually become more difficult to look after, especially due to his lack of verbal communication skills. At times he does not remember his wife’s name, and most often forgets the words he needs to use. Charles can become confused easily but the biggest struggle is his memory, as he can forget things very quickly. Hilary has done everything she can to make things easier for her husband, but now she feels she needs more help as she often becomes frustrated and upset.   1. What kind of help and support would be useful to Hilary? 2. How can Hilary communicate with Charles without using speech? 3. What does Hilary need to understand about her tone and body language in order to effectively communicate with Charles? 4. How can Hilary involve Charles in encouraging and enhancing his communication skills? It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.