The Relationship Between Dementia Severity and Communicative Ability from a Family Caregiver’s Perspective

Abstract

The relationship between dementia severity in persons with dementia (PWD) and communicative ability from the perspective of their family caregivers was investigated. There was a significant correlation between Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) and communicative abilities in Communicative Abilities of Daily Living Family Questionnaire (CADL-FQ), but not between CDR and language functions in CADL-FQ. Family caregivers considered that interpersonal interactions with a degenerative process might be affected by communicative abilities, or language use in context, not by issues in language functions alone. We discussed ways to intervene for communicative abilities in dementia to support the well-being of PWD and their family caregivers.