"It's nice to think somebody's listening to me instead of saying 'oh shut up'". People with dementia reflect on what makes communication good and meaningful.

Social isolation can be problematic for people with dementia; understanding what makes communication meaningful may reduce such risk.Previous research has examined caregivers' or professionals' experiences of meaningful communication. Understanding this from the perspectives of people with dementia could enhance their interactions and wellbeing.Exploring what makes communication meaningful from the perspective of people with dementia.Nine dyadic interactions between a person with dementia and a family carer were filmed. Individuals with dementia watched the footage and reflected on their communications in semi-structured interviews.Three superordinate themes emerged. Themes 'sharing moments of emotional connection' and 'empowering one's ability to communicate' related to the experience of feeling connected, understood, valued, and heard; allowing further communication. Conversely, 'inhibitors to communication' related feeling disempowered and reduced interactions.Even when carers could not understand what people with dementia attempted to communicate, their efforts to interact with them were valued and considered meaningful as they reinforce their sense of connectedness.Embracing a person-centred approach by actively attuning to the person and continuously attempting to empathise and understand persons with dementia can help preserve important relationships and allow the person to feel valued and interpersonally connected. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.