‘Hearing the Person with Dementia: Person-centred approaches to communication for families and caregivers,’ by clinical psychologist, dementia consultant and educator Bernie McCarthy, is in its third  print and continues to be a favourite with people caring for another who is living with dementia. Buy now

In 2015 it was chosen for inclusion in the Reading Agency’s Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia Scheme, which is being rolled out across England in 2015

Losing the ability to communicate can be a frustrating and difficult experience for people living with dementia, their families and carers. As the illness progresses, the person with dementia may find it increasingly difficult to express themselves clearly and to understand what others say.

Intended both for family and professional carers this book clearly explains what happens to the part of the brain the controls communication as dementia progresses, how this may affect an individual’s memory, language and senses, and how carers need to adapt their approach as a result.

Advocating a person-centred approach to dementia care, McCarthy describes methods of verbal and non-verbal communication, techniques for communicating with people who can no longer speak or move, and strategies for communicating more effectively in specific situations, including at mealtimes, whilst helping the person with dementia to dress, and whilst out and about.

Exercises at the end of each chapter encourage the carer to reflect on their learning and apply it to their own circumstances, and guidelines for creating a life story with the person with dementia as a means of promoting good communication are also included.

The book is based on Bernie McCarthy’s 20 years experience ‘of working to support carers of people living with dementia at home and in residential care.’

Bernie McCarthy has presented internationally and nationally on caring for the person with dementia and writes about ‘the powerful effect of good communication in reaching a person previously thought to be ‘unreachable’ because of cognitive impairment.’

To purchase your copy of Hearing the Person with Dementia, contact Anne Connor at anne@mccarthypsychology.com.au | 03 9431 0311

Media for the book

Life Matters – ABC Radio National

Download this mp3 file (link below) to listen to Bernie McCarthy talking with Richard Aedy on Life Matters on Radio National today. They are discussing Bernie’s recently published book Hearing the person with dementia: Person centred approaches to communication for families and caregivers.

Radio National interview 25052011

Richard Stubbs in the afternoon – ABC Radio 774

Download this mp3 file (link below) to listen to Richard Stubbs on 774 ABC Melbourne talking with Bernie McCarthy about his book Hearing the person with dementia: Person centred approaches to communication for families and caregivers.

Richard Stubbs talks to Bernie McCarthy 23.05.2011

Elaine Harris – ABC Radio Northern Tasmania

Listen to Bernie McCarthy talking about person-centred communication with people who have dementia and about his book, “Hearing the person with dementia” in this interview with Elaine Harris of ABC Radio Northern Tasmania.

ABC Radio Tasmania