Speech & Language Therapy
Services for People with
Dementia and their Families
Kevin Borrett
About the service
I offer therapy across Hampshire and the West Sussex border, from Southampton to Chichester in the south, and from Winchester to Haslemere in the north. Sessions are always arranged as visits to wherever you live, whether at home or in a nursing or residential setting. If regular visits are necessary, they can be arranged as weekly, fortnightly or monthly visits. To get the most out of the service, a family member would normally be present during the sessions.
Communication
It is my intention to provide practical support for the carers as well as for the people with dementia, bridging the gap in communication to help reduce the frustration and anxiety. Communication is vital in situations where significant life-changing decisions are being made, such as moving into a residential or nursing home or asking questions about the future. Communication is equally important for simple everyday activities such as letting someone know whether we prefer tea or coffee.
Communication difficulties experienced by people with dementia may include:
- word-finding problems
- losing the thread of a conversation
- using jumbled words
- forgetting what they were talking about
They may experience difficulties with any aspect of reading, writing, speaking or listening. It will often include memory difficulties as well as problems with:
- information processing
- attention
- concentration
- judgement
- reason
Communication therapy is either direct or indirect. Direct therapy involves regular 1:1 work with the person with dementia. This is likely to be either in the early stages of a dementia, or with people with a mild dementia.
Indirect therapy involves working through family members, suggesting strategies and techniques that can be used in everyday situations. This approach is more likely in the later stages of dementia.
Swallowing Difficulties
Swallowing difficulties, also called dysphagia, can be caused by dementia. There may be a difficulty with the swallow mechanism itself, causing coughing or choking, or you may find that there is a broader eating and drinking difficulty such as disinterest in food or chewing the same piece of food over and over again. This can be due to many environmental or physical factors, and assessment, observation and discussion will determine the best course of action.
Fees
Fees are based on recommendations from the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Association of Speech & Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTiP).