Rethinking Communication guide to advanced dementia

7 Let’s begin by examining a question that can sometimes feel odd or uncomfortable. Is it acceptable to talk about dementia and babies in the same sentence? Some readers will feel this makes fine sense, because ‘people are people’, no matter what their age. For other readers, though, it can seem that there is something vaguely inappropriate about making such a link. They worry that it risks infantilizing an adult. They wonder if using the word ‘baby’ could undermine the dignity and respect that older people rightly deserve. Both views are valuable. Together, they illuminate the central perspective from which this book grew. Linking these two ends of the life span absolutely does not mean that we should treat people with dementia in a childlike or demeaning way. Instead, it highlights the humanity that lies within all of us, at any stage of life. It reinforces, rather than diminishes, the importance of respect and dignity within all human interactions.