Abstract
Often communication from people with advanced dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) is regarded as incoherent and meaningless. However, with careful listening and observation, such communication often becomes more understandable. To better understand DAT communication, the investigators designed an exploratory qualitative study to videotape and critically analyze conversations between a clinical nurse specialist and 15 subjects with DAT ranging from mild to severe. One of the findings was that, even in later stages, indications were given that subjects had self-awareness of their cognitive decline. The investigators further examined the communication of the five most cognitively impaired subjects for other indications of self-awareness and well-being. To demonstrate this premise of awareness of cognitive decline and self in the later stages of DAT, excerpts from communication received from five subjects with advanced cognitive impairment are presented.