Department of Communication Disorders, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Communication difficulties in patients with Alzheimer's dementia are a major source of caregiver strain because of the psychological and interpersonal burden they present. Nurses are in a critical position for understanding the communication decline and providing education and counseling to decrease this burden. In this article, the communication burden of dementia is examined and practical approaches to facilitating communication are discussed so nurses can increase their role in education and counseling regarding Alzheimer's dementia.