Ressignification of the demented elder: The language from past to present

Introduction: This case study describes the psychological follow-up of an elderly patient (90 years), attended for three consecutive years. In the initial consultation, the family informed, as complaint, depression and medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's syndrome. The follow-up went with monthly case study with professionals in related fields: nursing, occupational therapy and phonoaudiology. The termination occurred when the patient affected by lung disease was hospitalized. Objective: to describe the follow-up and the outcome of the case through the psychological listening of the history preserved from the past, contemplating the language to active the cognition and to slow down the evolutionary loss of functional capacity. Method: case study whose attendance resorted to psychological listening, research, interpretation of what was said in the sessions, family orientation on the general care of the patient. The dialogue between psychology, nursing, phonoaudiology and occupational therapy through monthly meetings was relevant to the achieved results. Results: The sensitivity of listening and appreciation of affective aspects awoke in the patient better speech production, thus stimulating memory and cognition, favoring communication in family and social context, consequently improving the quality of life. Conclusion: The services contributed to the ressignification of the subject's life. Since the beginning of the treatment, over the months, there were significant improvements: in functional capacity, memory, language and family interaction.