Communication with Communication with older adults older adults

Basic concepts Basic concepts

Problems that may HCP experience is Problems that may HCP experience is mostly related to: mostly related to:

1. Societal discrimination and 1. Societal discrimination and stereotyping stereotyping

2. Lack of understanding for the 2. Lack of understanding for the physical changes that occur with physical changes that occur with normal aging. e.g., of people 64 – normal aging. e.g., of people 64 – 74 year old, 24% have hearing loss. 74 year old, 24% have hearing loss.

Physical changes in normal Physical changes in normal aging aging

- One main issue is that physical - One main issue is that physical changes that occurs in old people changes that occurs in old people affects their self esteem, self affects their self esteem, self concept, and communication abilities. concept, and communication abilities.

- Among the most are: - Among the most are:

1. Vision and hearing acuity1. Vision and hearing acuity

2. Physical deterioration. 2. Physical deterioration.

3. Increased vulnerability to illness 3. Increased vulnerability to illness

Cognition changes Cognition changes

- - No problem in intelligence but more No problem in intelligence but more time for verbal and retrieving in time for verbal and retrieving in formation from memory formation from memory

- Less likely to make guessing- Less likely to make guessing

- Very few percentage may have - Very few percentage may have dementia problem - therefore: dementia problem - therefore: communication requires no communication requires no modification modification BUTBUT allowing little extra allowing little extra time to make a successful time to make a successful communicationcommunication

Psychosocial and environmental Psychosocial and environmental

- Multiple losses of people, activities, - Multiple losses of people, activities, and functions and functions

- For those who made achievements: - For those who made achievements: losses of self –esteem, and status losses of self –esteem, and status

- Losses of purpose of life and sense - Losses of purpose of life and sense identityidentity

- Some mental problems such as: - Some mental problems such as: depression, somatization depression, somatization

Therapeutic strategies with specific lossesTherapeutic strategies with specific losses Hearing:Hearing:

1. 1. Address by nameAddress by name

2. Determine if hearing is better in one ear 2. Determine if hearing is better in one ear

3. Speak distinctly but in a normal voice3. Speak distinctly but in a normal voice

4. Use facial and gestures expressions4. Use facial and gestures expressions

5. Face the adults 5. Face the adults

6. If the adult does not understand, use different 6. If the adult does not understand, use different wordswords

7. Do not talk and your hand in front of your 7. Do not talk and your hand in front of your mouthmouth

8. Keep background noise as possible as 8. Keep background noise as possible as minimum minimum

Vision:Vision: 1. Have eye glass in place, if they are 1. Have eye glass in place, if they are

wornworn2. Identify your self by name2. Identify your self by name3. Stand in front of the client 3. Stand in front of the client 4. Verbally explain all written information4. Verbally explain all written information5. Provide appropriate lighting5. Provide appropriate lighting6. Remove all hazards that may obstruct 6. Remove all hazards that may obstruct

the pathwaythe pathway7. Tell the client were you going when 7. Tell the client were you going when

ambulating or moving from one place ambulating or moving from one place to another. to another.

Responding to Psychosocial needsResponding to Psychosocial needs

- Begin with the client’s story - Begin with the client’s story

- Use proactive approach - Use proactive approach

- Promoting client’s - Promoting client’s autonomyautonomy

- Acting as client’s advocates - Acting as client’s advocates

Blocks to communication Blocks to communication

1. Offering cliché reassurance 1. Offering cliché reassurance

2. Giving advices 2. Giving advices

3. Answering your own questions 3. Answering your own questions

4. Giving excessive praise or reprimands 4. Giving excessive praise or reprimands

5. Defending against complaints5. Defending against complaints

6. Using parenting approach or behavior 6. Using parenting approach or behavior

Communication with cognitively Communication with cognitively impaired impaired

1. Reminiscences 1. Reminiscences

2. Repetition and instruction 2. Repetition and instruction

3. Use of touch and eye contact 3. Use of touch and eye contact

4. Use of multiple modalities 4. Use of multiple modalities

5. Use of distraction for 5. Use of distraction for disruptive behaviors disruptive behaviors