Choosing Words Wisely When It Comes to Alzheimer's and COVID-19

Author Trish Laub recommends in Being Patient that people should be cautious in their choice of words when dealing with older adults suffering from Alzheimer's, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, to avoid negative connotations. "We need to start by being accurate in what we say," she says. "For example, the statement that 'Alzheimer's is a fight,' implies that it is a persistent, life-altering inconvenience and elicits a feeling of defeat. The alternative, 'Alzheimer's is a challenge,' indicates that it is an obstacle that can be overcome and result in a feeling of accomplishment." Similarly, Laub suggests that when discussing sheltering-in-place and quarantine orders in the midst of the pandemic, "consider the difference between saying, 'We are stuck,' compared with, 'We are staying safe.'"