COMMUNICATING & INTERACTING WITH RESIDENTS THAT HAVE IMPAIRMENTS

NATCEP Day Five

Slide 1

OBJECTIVES

Define impairment Describe appropriate communication

techniques for vision, hearing, speech and/or physically impaired residents

Identify techniques to communicate with the confused, withdrawn, depressed, restless, agitated or combative resident

Identify techniques to communicate with non-English-speaking residents

Slide 2

IMPAIRMENT DEFINED

Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function

Slide 3

OVERCOMING BARRIERS WITH VISION

Environment Clean & free of clutter Put things back where you found them Do not rearrange

Keep glasses clean Lighting! Position self in front of resident – face to face Explain everything that you are doing Introduce self when entering; announce when leaving Talk to resident, not someone else in room as if the

resident was not present Serving meal – tell resident where items are located Service dog – working,, not a pet Slide 4

OVERCOMING BARRIERS WITH HEARING

Face to face - lighting! Make sure they have their glasses if they were them Speak in normal tone of voice Keep hands away from face, don’t chew gum or eat Sit or stand on side with better hearing Turn off other noise in room – TV, radio Remember everyone hears less when ill or tired Hearing Aids

Check for cleanliness & placement Battery Life Volume On/Off

Slide 5

OVERCOMING BARRIERS WITH SPEECH

Listen & give full attention Watch lip movement Ask questions you know answer to – help

familiarize you with speech patterns Face expressions can provide cues Ask to repeat, if necessary Repeat what you believe was said to verify Ask to write down, if needed Use pictures cards

Slide 6

OVERCOMING PHYSICAL BARRIERS

Identify impairment Listen carefully & patiently Speak directly to resident Be sensitive to non-verbals Avoid giving your own negative non-

verbals BE PATIENT – allow extra time

Slide 7

COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEPRESSED OR WITHDRAWN

LISTEN Use simple sentences Spend time (quality) with the resident Communicate at eye level Be patient – allow time to speak Respect feeling Provide a safe environment

Slide 8

RESTLESS, AGITATED OR COMBATIVE

Stay calm and use a confident tone of voice Show a positive attitude Stay flexible Be patient Stay neutral Remember – emotions are contagious

between you & the resident. Do not use gestures that could startle or

frighten the resident

Slide 9

NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING

Speak slowly & clearly Keep messages short & simple Use gestures, pictures and/or photos Seek assistance from family, friends,

staff and other residents who speak their language

Be patient & calm Be alert for signs that the resident is

“pretending” to understand.Slide

10

BASIC FACTS & MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ELDERLY

NATCEP Day Five

Slide 11

OBJECTIVES

Describe the developmental tasks associated with aging

Discuss facts about the elderly compared to common misconceptions about aging

DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS IN AGING

Developing leisure activities & making new friends Adjusting to decreasing health & physical strength Adjusting to retirement & reduced income Accepting oneself as an aging person Adjusting to death of spouse, family & friends Maintaining satisfactory living relationships Realigning relationships with adult children Finding meaning of life Preparing for one’s death

BASIC FACTS

Life expectancy http://www.livingto100.com/

Medical costs are rising US Census

Percentage of population >65 years 2000: 13% 2030: 20% projected

Poor = 10% Women largest subgroup

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Old age starts at 65 Most elderly live in LTCF Hard of hearing Slow to learn Hard to get along with Unproductive Lonely Confused Don’t want to do things for themselves