HJNO Jul/Aug 2025

68 JUL / AUG 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS COLUMN  SENIOR HEALTH AROUND every 3.2 seconds on average, someone in the world develops dementia, according to Alzheimer’s Disease Interna- tional. With the number of people diag- nosed with dementia expected to nearly double every 20 years, it is not surprising that more and more people are experienc- ing relationships that are affected by Al- zheimer’s or other types of dementia. Recently, Jennifer Credeur, LCSW, a importantly, kindly. Effective communication is a corner- stone of quality dementia care. For health- care providers, guiding family members and friends on how to interact with loved ones experiencing cognitive decline can significantly enhance the quality of life for everyone involved. As dementia pro- gresses, changes in memory, language, and comprehension can make even the sim- Certified Dementia Trainer, shared with me that she has received lots of questions lately from individuals who simply want to know how to communicate with a friend or loved one who has dementia. Credeur says that although they may have known the person for 40 or 50 years, they are now entering a new chapter of the relationship and want to make sure that they are able to communicate clearly, effectively, and most COMMUNICATING WITH COMPASSION: A Guide for Healthcare Providers to Support Families of Patients with Dementia