Aiding understanding: A case study into how we can utilize language as a means to benefit those in the Late Stages of Alzheimer’s

Dementia has become one of the most relevant and life threatening diseases to impact the 21st century, affecting 850,000 people in the UK alone (see Alzheimer’s society, 2016). Dementia is becoming a huge economic and humanitarian burden for not just families but whole countries. Dementia alone costed the UK £23 billion in 2014, this is set to almost triple by 2050 (see Lewis, F et al, 2014). Dementia, is a cognitive disease that slowly deteriorating one’s mind causing forgetfulness, confusion, mood swings and over time, preventing even the most basic of cognitive functions. Linguistics has already played a huge role in understanding this disease particularly in the area of identifying the disease (see Faser K, Meltzer J and Rudzicz F, 2015). This research project however, will analyze how those caring for dementia patients, can manipulate their own language, utilizing it as a cooperative tool in order to aid dementia patients’ understanding and how by using specific language features, carers can establish a much needed level of understanding with their patients. This research project focuses on a single Alzheimer’s patient/resident permanently living in a private care institution, along with multiple carers whom interact with them daily. This research project analyzes how carers alter their language for the sake of audience design, using techniques such as rephrasing commands into auxiliary lead questions as well as using language to save the face of the Alzheimer’s patient. The overall goal for this project is to generate a level of compassion and understanding among the general public and aid those caring for someone with dementia by establishing a method of communication which hopefully causes minimal frustration and a maximum level of understanding. Alzheimer’s Society. (2016). Facts for the media. Available: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20027/news _and_media/541/facts_for_the_media. Last accessed 27th Feb 2017. Lewis, F, Karlsberg Schaffer, S, Sussex, J, O'Neill, P and Cockcroft, L. (2014). The Trajectory of Dementia in the UK - Making a Difference. Available: https://www.ohe.org/publications/trajectory- dementia-uk-making-difference. Last accessed 27th Feb 2017. Fraser, K, Meltzer, J and Rudzicz F. (2015). Linguistic Features Identify Alzheimer’s Disease in Narrative Speech. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 49 (1), p407