Rethinking Communication guide to advanced dementia

emotionally-attuned, warm relationships for human well-being. Attachment theory has come to be associated primarily with childhood functioning. However, this is much too limited a perspective. Attachment theory provides insights on the impact of relationships at all ages. This absolutely applies to the relationships between people with dementia and their caregivers. Attachment can be thought of as the lasting, intense emotional bond that occurs between people who are significant to one another. The term ‘attachment’ can seem technical, reminding us that it stems from a scientific theory, but the advantage of that formality is that it helps us to look more deeply at the importance of relationships.