Delivering healthcare effectively

You must always remain person-centred and polite to the patient but many requests you make are to deliver healthcare that is necessary and in the patient's best interest.

Some of the ways we commonly make requests are not understood by people with dementia.

If a patient with dementia initially says ‘no’ to your request, try using language which conveys more authority, makes the task appear easier or makes the task as explicit as possible.

These communication techniques will make it more likely that the patient will eventually agree to your request.

Watch this video and write, in the box, as many suggestions as you can as to what the healthcare professional could say next to persuade the patient to take the necessary action

Consider which of your statements change the level of authority, which make the task more explicit and which make the task appear easier

To see how the conversation continued in real life click the continue button