Rethinking Communication guide to advanced dementia

children of their own. In addition, those living with the illness have the experience of something we may personally never encounter. They are living with dementia. Those of us without that illness cannot fully understand what living with dementia is like. Those living with its advanced stages are unlikely to communicate with us in a way that we understand. Therefore, if we are to be able to stay in contact with them, it is up to us to find a way in. Our common humanity is the tool that will help us do that. How do we all learn to talk? Paying attention to our humanity lets us ask: is it really undignified to talk about people with advanced dementia and babies in the same breath? As a society, we believe that babies matter. There are clearly stated expectations within childcare environments as to how children are best cared for, how the day’s activities should be structured, which foods