{"id":5473,"date":"2022-09-22T18:21:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T18:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=5473"},"modified":"2024-11-05T20:49:14","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T20:49:14","slug":"elderly-patients-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/elderly-patients-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Tips for Improving Communication with Elderly Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hearing loss, cognitive decline and other issues related to the aging process sometimes make it challenging to communicate effectively with elderly patients. Communicating is essential in building a good relationship with your patients, no matter their age. However, if you regularly work with elderly patients<\/a>, it\u2019s imperative to learn suitable techniques to overcome communication challenge<\/span>s<\/span>. Improve how you communicate and help ensure your elderly patients hear and understand what you\u2019re saying with these essential tips.<\/span><\/p>\n

12 Tips for Improving Communication with Elderly Patients<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Wait for Acknowledgement<\/b><\/h4>\n

Kera Redlack BN, RN, MHS, is the Director of Health & Wellness at <\/span>United Active Living<\/span><\/a> senior communities and has dedicated over 15 years to caring for elderly patients. Personal experience has taught her to wait for an acknowledgment before starting a conversation. She explained that waiting before you begin to speak allows older patients to adjust a hearing assistive device or read your lips. However, this advice isn\u2019t just for healthcare providers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked with a couple once where the wife was irritated that the husband didn\u2019t remember anything she said. Conversely, the husband didn\u2019t recall that the wife had said such things,\u201d explained Redlack. \u201cIt turned out to be a matter of the wife speaking to her husband in passing, as she cooked or while a TV program was on and the husband wasn\u2019t aware the wife was speaking and subsequently didn\u2019t hear what she was saying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Keep Your Face Visible and Enunciate<\/b><\/h4>\n

Never mumble or turn away from a patient you know has difficulty hearing you. Ensuring your patient hears you often hinges on making sure they can see you, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen communicating with elderly patients, always make sure your mouth and lips are visible,\u201d advised Alaine Ross, a registered nurse and co-founder of <\/span>Sleep Family<\/span><\/a> with over five years of experience working with and caring for elderly patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t attempt talking from a different room or from the side or behind the person,\u201d Ross said. \u201cYou want to be positioned directly in front of the patient. Additionally, make sure to speak slowly and really enunciate. Following these two rules will result in much better comprehension because elderly patients will be able to read your lips in addition to listening.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kelly Smith, BSN, RN, is the owner and operator of <\/span>Nestcare<\/span><\/a>, a private duty nursing agency in Sarasota, Florida. She agreed that facing the client when talking and speaking slowly and clearly are key to better communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAsk the client if they can hear you,\u201d added Smith. \u201cThis can help you adjust your proximity to them as well as your voice tone. Many older adults struggle not only with hearing but also with processing auditory information. For this reason, I\u2019ve found that speaking slowly while facing directly in front of them helps with these challenges. Allowing the client to see your facial movements also allows for their brain to help them process other non-verbal information at the same time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Reduce Background Noise<\/b><\/h4>\n

The need to wear a mask throughout the <\/span>COVID-19 pandemic<\/span> has been especially rough on those who already have a hard time hearing. Masks muffle your voice and make it impossible to read your lips, requiring nurses to talk louder or make additional adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n

When wearing a mask, Redlack suggested that \u201creducing background noise, like television programs and radios, or moving to an area that\u2019s less crowded, can be critical to ensuring you\u2019re adequately heard. Other approaches like speaking loud and clear in a steady cadence or even using props to help ensure the intended message is portrayed are also helpful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Utilize Hearing Supports<\/b><\/h4>\n

Consider carrying a pocket talker if you regularly converse with older patients. These assistive listening devices amplify sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noise, making them ideal for one-on-one conversations and\/or in situations where you can\u2019t minimize distracting sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe aware of hearing challenges and utilize hearing supports,\u201d said Smith. \u201cMany older adults struggle with hearing loss. Encouraging clients to have regular hearing screenings and hearing aid maintenance helps support their needs, especially in healthcare settings. Utilizing hearing devices, such as Bluetooth hearing aid support or speaker support, can also assist in telehealth appointments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Carry a Notepad<\/b><\/h4>\n

When caring for elderly patients, don\u2019t overlook visual cues that might improve communication, especially for those with hearing loss. Visual cues might include clearly printed written words if the patient doesn\u2019t also have vision or advanced cognitive challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPatients with hearing loss often feel embarrassed and frustrated if they don\u2019t immediately understand what someone is saying, so always carry a small notepad in your pocket,\u201d Ross instructed. \u201cThere will inevitably be times when the patient simply won’t understand what you\u2019re asking or telling them to do. Rather than taking the chance of upsetting the patient by repeating yourself several times, don’t be afraid to pull out your notepad and quickly write a question or set of directions for them to read.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Get Comfortable with Silence<\/b><\/h4>\n

Some patients may hear fine, but something may have impacted their ability to understand both spoken and written language. Hand gestures and pictures may help better facilitate communication. Smith suggested you get comfortable with silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany older adults may struggle with aphasia or other communication disorders as they age or following a health event, such as a stroke,\u201d she said. \u201cResist the urge to speak for them. Instead, allow extra time for them to process answers to your questions or to ask questions of their own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Use Plain Language<\/b><\/h4>\n

Avoiding medical jargon and sticking to laymen\u2019s terms is helpful advice when dealing with any patient. However, it can be especially beneficial when communicating with older adults who may already struggle with simple language. Avoid overloading them by sticking to a single topic and breaking large amounts of information into smaller, more manageable chunks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, don\u2019t keep repeating yourself if an elderly patient doesn\u2019t understand. Instead, rephrase what you\u2019re trying to tell them. Saying something differently may increase their chance of understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greta Rosler, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPXP, is a healthcare leader and certified patient experience professional who supports organizations and other healthcare leaders to maximize patient and clinician experiences through her consulting company, <\/span>Radius Leaders<\/span><\/a>. She started her career in long-term care and has extensive experience working in hospitals and personal experience in supporting an elderly parent with dementia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCommunicating with older adults requires brevity as well as plain language,\u201d Rosler advised. \u201cThis really applies to anyone in a healthcare setting, but especially elderly individuals, as most people are unfamiliar with the jargon and terminology used.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Ask Elderly Patients to Repeat Instructions<\/b><\/h4>\n

Never assume an elderly patient understood you just because they said they did. They may be too embarrassed to tell you they couldn\u2019t hear you or didn\u2019t understand the words you used.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of asking if they understand your instructions, ask for them to repeat your instructions to you,\u201d said Smith. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to simply ask, \u2018Do you understand?\u2019 Many times, older adults will smile and nod, and you may be unaware that they didn\u2019t fully grasp the instructions that were given. However, when you ask them to repeat instructions, such as \u2018how often will you take this medication?\u2019 you can better understand how you can support their needs. If a client is unable to repeat the instructions, you may want to give additional support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Include Everyone in the Conversation<\/b><\/h4>\n

Cognitive impairments also impact communication style, but in different ways than hearing impairments. However, don\u2019t assume someone can\u2019t understand you because they\u2019ve experienced cognitive decline. Redlack says communication techniques vary for each individual and their degree of impairment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaintaining eye contact, sitting at the same level and addressing a person by their preferred name are all successful ways of connecting with an individual,\u201d she said. \u201cOftentimes, caregivers or family members bypass an individual with a cognitive impairment and exclude them from a conversation, assuming they can\u2019t contribute. This results in feelings of isolation and abandonment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Redlack said you should continue to include them but consider integrating smaller yes or no questions or this or that choices into the conversations. Taking these tactics allows them to keep participating in a meaningful way while ensuring they don\u2019t feel excluded.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Don\u2019t Make Assumptions<\/b><\/h4>\n

Offending an elderly patient by assuming they can\u2019t hear you can be off-putting and start your relationship off on a sour note. Redlack said it\u2019s important to note that not all older adults experience hearing loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t assume this is the case, and start raising your voice to everyone,\u201d she warned. \u201cEach individual will likely require a unique approach, so avoiding assumptions about a person\u2019s capacity is a good place to start.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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11. Don\u2019t Baby Elderly Patients<\/b><\/h4>\n

In the same vein as continuing to include elderly patients with cognitive decline in conversations and not <\/span>making assumptions<\/span><\/a>, take care not to minimize an elderly patient\u2019s intelligence simply because they\u2019ve been diagnosed with cognitive impairment. Having reduced cognitive abilities doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t understand anything you\u2019re saying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith older adults who may experience cognitive decline, speaking slowly is crucial,\u201d emphasized Rosler. \u201cHowever, it\u2019s also essential that we don\u2019t minimize the intelligence or cognitive ability of someone because of their age. Calling them things like \u2018sweetie\u2019 and using baby talk can diminish the relationship, which also diminishes how much they understand about their care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Follow Up and Give Reminders<\/b><\/h4>\n

Smith\u2019s final advice is to use other communication methods to ensure your message is heard and understood now and remembered later.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t underestimate the value of writing down information, sending reminders and making follow-up phone calls,\u201d she said. \u201cHealthcare settings are often filled with emotions, such as stress and anxiety, which can make it more difficult to remember details and clearly process information. Using additional supports, such as captions on telehealth visits, written instructions and medication or care plan reminders can also assist with overall communication.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you learned any unique ways to communicate with your elderly patients that have been especially effective? Please share your experience and advice with your fellow nurses in our comments section.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevate your career by exploring the latest job openings from top staffing partners on Vivian Health today.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Learn to adjust your communication style to ensure your elderly patients hear and understand you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":5474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-5473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-resources","tag-allhcp"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/2-Nurse-with-elderly-patient-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}