How Assisted Living Supports Word Finding Difficulty
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The Alzheimer's Association says that around 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older has Alzheimer's. This totals over 7 million Americans, and by 2050, this will increase to nearly 13 million.
It's clear that cognitive issues are a real problem in the senior population. And while there are no cures, there are certainly ways to slow the progress of diseases and boost their quality of life.
If your elderly loved one in Burleson, TX, is having word-finding difficulty, then they may benefit from moving into an assisted living community. We understand that loved ones may be hesitant to take their senior out of their home, but they'll thrive as a result.
Here are the advantages that a senior living community can offer them.
A Calm, Patient Conversation Culture
Being in an environment where you feel hurried and rushed can be detrimental to older adults, especially if they're having word-finding difficulties. You may have lots to do in daily life, and perhaps you don't think twice about speaking quickly and impatiently. However, this can cause your loved one to withdraw.
In an assisted living community, there's a relaxed, calm, and patient conversation culture. Everyday talk feels safe and unhurried, and older adults are given time to search for words without being interrupted or "rescued" too quickly.
For example, staff members are educated on communication tips for seniors, meaning they'll model:
- Slow speech
- Shorter sentences
- Frequent check-ins (such as "Do you mean...?")
This allows your beloved senior to stay in control, and this can "reverse" Alzheimer's. Because your loved one can retain control, this will lower anxiety, which is one of the main blockers of word retrieval. In time, you'll see words surface more easily for them, and their confidence will grow.
Predictable Routines That Prime the Right Words
We've just said that anxiety is the main word-retrieval blocker, and a big contributor to that is unpredictable routines. If older adults don't know what's happening or what's coming up next, then their anxiety will spike, making word retrieval much harder.
In assisted living, residents benefit from predictable routines. The days follow a steady rhythm, where your loved one can anticipate topics and vocabulary before they're needed. For example, there are:
- Breakfast choices
- Morning exercise classes
- Afternoon crafts
- Evening TV
When they have "topic previews," this reduces the mental load of thinking and speaking at the same time. Communities often post their daily schedules, menu boards, and activity previews so residents can know what to expect. Seeing and hearing these things in advance can help with senior behavioral health, and word-finding will be much easier.
Visual Supports and Technology That Make Expression Easier
A study by Chen et al., published in Geriatric Nursing, found that visual aids can support communication with older adults who have cognitive impairment. It should come as no surprise, then, that assisted living communities utilize these supports for their residents.
Examples include:
- Picture menus
- Labeled drawers
- Photo directories of neighbors
- Memory boards in apartments
These all give alternative ways to point, show, or confirm meaning when a word won't come.
In many communities, they also use simple tools like:
- Large-button voice records
- Tablets with picture-to-speech apps
- Personal communication cards
All of these keep conversations moving without embarrassment, and this can boost self-belief.
Practical Word-Finding Strategies
Speech therapy for seniors may not always be available in assisted living settings. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they won't have access to practical word-finding strategies.
In fact, it's very likely that your loved one will learn flexible strategies that work in the moment. These techniques can quickly become a habit, making even success with one stuck word a huge win.
Small-Group Conversations and Reminiscence
Large and fast-moving chats can be disorienting and discouraging for older adults who have cognitive impairments. This is why assisted living communities strive to have small-group cognitive activities for seniors.
In these smaller, more intimate circles, residents can have:
- Coffee chats
- Book snippets
- Current-events light
- Show and tell
Not only is there less pressure in a more intimate setting, but the activities encourage reminiscence too. This taps into stronger long-term memories, which makes word retrieval more likely.
In addition, feeling heard in these groups can remind your loved one that they can still connect, and that feeling can carry into other moments.
Cognitive-Linguistic Workouts Disguised as Hobbies
Assisted living programs often have cognitive-linguistic workouts that are cleverly disguised as hobbies. For instance, there's:
- Lyric sing-alongs
- Arts and crafts
- Gardening
- Word games
- Reading circles
All of these activities are fun, and they're in low-pressure settings, too. Naming, describing, and sequencing will be easy to do since these actions are embedded in something enjoyable. As a result, your loved one will engage longer and leave with a sense of competence.
Removing Hidden Barriers That Make Word-Finding Harder
There may be hidden barriers that are preventing your elderly loved one from finding words. They may not be immediately noticeable, especially if they currently live alone. These barriers include:
- Hearing or vision changes
- Uncomfortable dentures
- Dehydration
- Pain
- Poor sleep
- Certain medications
The best thing about assisted living is that they'll be under the constant care of compassionate and well-trained staff. This can help surface and address these issues, as the staff members can help do things like:
- Coordinate vision and hearing checks
- Make sure glasses are clean and labeled
- Offer softer menu options
- Plan rest between activities
- Encourage steady fluids
When all this "background noise" drops, there's better brain health in seniors. And this results in an improvement in word retrieval, making conversations smoother.
Get Your Loved One Help With Word-Finding Difficulty
Word-finding difficulty can be frustrating to deal with; it can make older adults feel like they're trapped and unable to communicate with others. This can cause them to withdraw from daily life, and as a result, their quality of life will decrease.
But if they move into an assisted living community, they'll get the help they need. Not only will they thrive, but you'll also get peace of mind.
Morada Burleson gives our residents round-the-clock care with tasks like bathing, showering, and medication management. Contact us now if you want more information on assisted living in Burleson, tX.