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Big subject! Would you like to narrow your question down a bit for us?
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Teepa Snow has some very informative videos on YouTube about dementia, how and why it impacts its sufferers and how to better engage with them.
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You mention in your profile that you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's.
If this is the reason for your question these ideas might help.
*Give the person plenty of time to respond to a question or statement. (Up to 30 seconds, I know it is a long time but it can take that long to process the information and formulate a response)
* Talk clearly and distinctly and look at the person you are talking to. (There are a lot of facial clues we give so if the person is not understanding what you say they might get clues if you are happy, sad, angry by your face)
* Lower your voice. (Higher pitched vices are more difficult to hear and understand. Higher pitches are lost before lower pitch)
* Keep questions simple. Yes or No. Two choices not 3 or more. (Example. Do you want a sandwich? Do you want Ham or do you want Turkey? Would be the best way to ask about lunch. NOT What do you want for lunch? or Do you want a Ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce, mayo and tomato or do you want soup and a Grilled Cheese sandwich?)
* If the person gets stuck on a word or forgets what they were saying if you get the gist of the conversation just reply as if they completed the statement. If you have no idea what they are asking or talking about you can change the subject.
*If things get real frustrating Do not argue, if it is safe walk out of the room and take a minute to relax. I found that when my Husband would get very insistent on something I would start to laugh at the situation and pretty soon he would laugh and then I could more easily redirect him.
* Redirecting is a great tool to use. Try to get them interested in something else. Change subject. Ask if they can help with a tasks. Sorting socks, folding towels, cutting recipes out of a magazine. Stacking blocks. Or both take a break and go for a walk, sit and play cards, color, do a puzzle.

Important thing to remember is with dementia things can change rapidly and the thing that piss you off today they may not do next week. They may do something even more annoying! So be glad with what you have while you have it. The noises my Husband used to make, people would ask how I could stand it and I would say "because when he does stop I am going to miss it" and oddly enough I do miss it.

You might want to elaborate in your question or in your profile to get better answers if this is not what you were asking about.
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