Language Tips
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is here to help professionals and care partners alike to promote the consistent use of person-centered, inclusive and non-stigmatizing language when talking about dementia and people living with dementia. Using words with negative meaning when talking about dementia can have a deep impact on the person with dementia as well as on their family and friends.
| When talking about dementia, use language such as: | Avoid characterizations such as: |
| Dementia | Dementing illness |
| Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia | Demented |
| A form of dementia | Senile dementia |
| Symptoms of dementia | Sickness |
| A person/people with dementia | Sufferer |
| A person/people living with dementia | Victim |
| Patient (When used outside medical field) | |
| Resident (When used outside of medical field) |
| Discuss behaviors as a form of communication using phrases such as: | Do not use expressions such as: |
| Changed behavior(s) | Challenging |
| Expressions of unmet need | Attention seeker |
| Psychological symptoms of dementia | Aggressor |
| Describe the impact of dementia with terms such as: | Refrain from words such as: |
| Change in life expectations | Hopeless |
| Stressful | Tragic |
Have questions or need more information? Contact AFA’s Helpline at 866-232-8484 or click the chat icon in the lower right hand corner of this page.
