:

Can you call a dementia patient demented?

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, making respectful and sensitive communication more important than ever. However, outdated terms like “demented” are still sometimes used, which begs the question: can you call a dementia patient demented? The answer is no; using such language is considered harmful, offensive, and dehumanizing by medical professionals and advocacy groups.