Subtheme 2 – Being Self-Aware and Self-Reflective About

Many PSW participants in this study acknowledged that the way in which they communicated with PLWD affected clients’ thoughts and behaviours. Participants noted the impact that one’s verbal and non-verbal communication can have on PLWD. A

majority of participants who discussed the impact that their verbal communication could have on PLWD specifically highlighted the negative effects that directive communication could have on clients’ behaviours. These participants noted that when their

care. PSW_01_09, for instance, stated “instead of ordering, you should suggest,” as when communicative was directive, PLWD “...won’t acknowledge that. They fight you back.” PSW_01_15 similarly noted that when PSWs rushed communication, it could be interpreted by PLWD as being directive. PLWD subsequently reacted by resisting care: “Most time I find it when they feel rushed...Then they start to rebel...they rebel with us is like [PSW:] ‘Okay, you have to, you have to go in shower. [PLWD:]‘No I’m not

going’...‘Not today’...‘Not on your terms, today.’” PSW_01_14 noted further that it was

important to refrain from threatening PLWD with repercussions for their actions because it could elicit agitation from clients: “You don’t threaten. It’s not going to do any

good...That just gets him agitated.”

The impact of PSWs’ non-verbal communication on PLWD also was noted by

many participants. Of the PSWs who stated that non-verbal communication affected PLWD, most specifically referred to body language and attitude. Participants stated that when they exhibited positive body language and attitude when interacting with PLWD, positive responses from clients were elicited in return. PSW_01_02, for example,

discussed the importance of exhibiting a “relaxed” attitude when interacting with PLWD because this resulted in clients feeling similarly relaxed: “a big amount of making the clients relax is that you show that you’re relaxed. And then you don’t get them all wound up. And you find that they work more better with you”

The opposite effect was noted when PSWs displayed negative body language and attitude during encounters with PLWD. Participants expressed that in such situations, clients often reacted in an unfavourable manner. PSW_01_02, for instance, highlighted

the need to be aware of one’s own body language and attitude during interactions with PLWD, as it could inadvertently elicit a negative response from clients:

Like you, you know your body language. And if you come off too bossy. Or too

harsh. Or too shy or timid. And it’s like, you can’t do that. Like you’re going into

somebody that’s got Alzheimer’s, they’re gonna trigger something...So you watch your body language.

PSW_01_14 similarly discussed the need to be attentive to one’s own physical

behaviours, as it could complicate the overall caregiving process. She specifically expressed that when PSWs lacked a confident attitude, PLWD could react in ways impeded the ability to communicate, and provide care: “... if you show fear with anybody with Alzheimer’s or dementia? They gotcha. They got your number. And you’re not going to get anywhere to help them...”

Some participants further highlighted the impact of body language and attitude on clients’ feelings of being genuinely cared for. PSW_01_02, for instance, expressed the

importance of body language in instilling this feeling in PLWD, as this could not be accomplished solely through verbal means: “...words are nothing. Words are never anything, even to someone you’re talking to. It’s your body language that’s gonna tell, tell them how much you actually care” PSW_01_16 similarly noted the importance of exhibiting a “happy” attitude in ensuring clients felt sincerely cared for, stating: “...they need to see you’re happy to be there, you know they see that you care for them

While most participants who discussed the impact of their non-verbal

communication on PLWD emphasized body language and attitude, others discussed the effects that prosodic features of speech production could have on clients. Prosodic

features of speech production are defined as/refer to “the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech” (American Psychological Association, 2014). PSW_01_10, for instance, noted the effect that one’s tone of voice could have on PLWD. He specifically shared that if a

PSWs tone was “scary,” clients consequently reacted in a fearful manner: “If voice something scary, client will be scared too, especially dementia clients.” PSW_01_13 similarly noted the impact that one’s tone, as well as intonation, could have on PLWD,

expressing that changes in his own tone and intonation, could accordingly elicit changes in clients’ own communicative behaviours: “...you know they get, somebody with

dementia gets flustered easy, so intonation and tone and voice is really. If you go up, they

go up.” PSW_01_11 also discussed the impact of rate of speech on PLWD. She

expressed that it was important to ensure that one was not speaking too quickly because this could make clients feel as though PSWs did not want to be present in the care situation: “Like if you’re talking really fast...They’ll think well she doesn’t even want to be here.”