Communication takes the weight off Alzheimer's carers

Working with people with dementia can be very tiring, not least the physical strain of moving, or helping to move, people around care homes. Researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg surveyed health-care assistants at three homes in western Sweden. They found that people's body weight had little effect on the levels of strain that carers felt when trying to move them. Communication problems were a much more important factor and these could be alleviated by explaining things in a different form of words or using body language. Knowing people as individuals also made things easier, allowing people to give appropriate instructions using the right vocal pitch and to judge the physical capabilities of residents.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914110949.htm