People avoid dementia conversations due to uncertainty, says Faroese Alzheimer’s association

Many people shy away from starting conversations with those who have dementia because they do not know how to approach them, the Faroese Alzheimer’s Association has said.

According to Kringvarp Føroya, Unn Justinussen, deputy chair of the association, explained that when speaking to someone with dementia, it is better to begin by introducing yourself rather than asking them to recall who you are. “Asking them to remember puts unnecessary pressure on them,” she said.

The discussion follows a widely shared social media list offering advice on how to make life easier for people with dementia. While the tips are generally sound, Justinussen recommended visiting the Alzheimer’s Association’s website for more reliable guidance.

Hilmar Augustinussen, who cares for people with dementia, warned that many avoid interaction once they learn someone has the condition. “These individuals are not broken—their brains just function differently,” he said, comparing it to a computer with a full hard drive. “They may not remember what happened five minutes ago, but they can still engage in conversation.”

Augustinussen urged people to treat those with dementia as they always have, rather than assuming shared memories are lost.