Beyond Correction: Lessons for Compassionate Communication in Dementia Care
Parallel 3
17 November, 2026 5:00 – 6:10 pmStaff Development in Care Homes: Evidence, Outcomes and Practice
Ankita Arora
Senior Care Worker and Volunteer Research Advisor
Links Care Centre and Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University
Summary
People living with dementia are frequently supported by family members, carers and professionals who act with the best of intentions. Yet communication that prioritises factual accuracy and repeated orientation to reality may unintentionally lead to distress, frustration and a diminished sense of dignity. Increasingly, person-centred approaches to dementia care have highlighted the importance of understanding the emotional meaning behind words and behaviours, rather than focusing solely on cognitive deficits.
This presentation explores how everyday interactions can either support or undermine emotional wellbeing and personhood. Drawing on established principles of person-centred care and communication, the session examines why the instinct to correct, reassure through facts, or repeatedly return individuals to shared reality is not always experienced as supportive by people living with dementia.
Through reflective examples and practical lessons, the presentation will consider how validation, empathy and emotionally attuned communication can help preserve identity, reduce distress and strengthen relationships. Attendees will be encouraged to rethink familiar assumptions about memory and care, and to consider how compassionate communication can contribute to more humane and dignified support for people living with dementia.
The session aims to provide practical insights for professionals, carers and communities seeking to create environments in which people living with dementia are not only cared for, but genuinely understood.