‘Flipping the script’ in dementia care boosts connection
Language can significantly influence the way treatment is received, dementia researchers from Flinders University say.
A language-based intervention led by researchers from Flinders University and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network shows a change in the way healthcare staff speak about people living with dementia can lead to significant improvements in care practices, culture, and human connection.
The analysis approach was adapted from a UK-based aged-care staff training program called My Home Life – which found that shifting language helped staff understand residents on a deeper level and improved documentation and care delivery.
The Australian-based qualitative study – which was published in Dementia – explored how moving away from clinical language impacted on care provision and culture in a neurobehavioral unit. Five focus groups were involved made up 23 staff members and 30 family members.
Led by occupational therapist Dr Suzanne Dawson, the intervention was tested in a specialised behavioural unit designed for people with extreme behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and was centred on the idea of “flipping language” to encourage staff and families to identify language that felt wrong, insensitive or too clinical.
“The language we use in clinical settings doesn’t just describe reality – it shapes it,” said Dr Dawson.
“By consciously choosing words that focus on a person’s experience rather than labelling their behaviour, we’re able to connect more deeply, provide more personalised care, and create a culture that’s not just clinically safe but emotionally safe too.”
Carer project officer with the SALHN mental health rehabilitation team Jenie Aikman said staff reported that while the old language may have been efficient, it did not accurately capture an individual’s behaviour, and “flipping the language” meant more descriptive language was used in handovers. This in turn helped increase understanding amongst staff and led to a shift in care approaches.
“At the same time, family had told us how much it hurt to hear their loved ones described in clinical terms that reduced them to symptoms – whereas the flipped language felt more respectful and empathetic, helping to humanise their loved ones,” Ms Aikman said.
The cultural shift associated with the more personal language didn’t require major structural changes, rather a commitment to reflection and relational care, and Dr Dawson said all staff embraced the change.
“They reported often engaging in informal conversations about language during handovers and team meetings, fostering a culture of openness, psychological safety, and mutual respect,” she said.
The research team hope to see the intervention tested in other settings with stigmatising language, such as mental health care.
“This isn’t about policing people’s language; it’s about ensuring dignity for a vulnerable group of our population,” Dr Dawson explained.
“This study shows that small changes in everyday language can have a profound effect on relationships and outcomes, and it should be a consideration for all who work in this space.”
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