Rethinking Communication guide to advanced dementia

into memories of their own parents. This is especially likely in the absence of other emotional connection. Scientists see this as reflecting a need to draw on a ‘symbolic representation’ of historic attachment figures because one is less able to draw on the support of current attachment figures. The likelihood of retreating in this way seems to be greater for people in nursing homes than for people in community settings. All of these findings highlight the crucial role that relationships continue to play in the lives of people with dementia. Behaviour that may once have seemed confusing becomes easily understandable if we see it as an attempt to communicate. The more connected we can help people to feel, the more we nurture a sense of safety and contentment.