Dec-28-2021
Communication Tips for elderly
Tips for effective communication with the elderly population
As we age, we experience physical, psychological, and social changes. We should forget that most of the senior population who live in nursing homes have some communication disabilities, which require more patience and understanding to communicate with them.
However, there are some tips and strategies that can be used to facilitate communication with seniors.
- Reducing background noises improves communication with older people. Turn off the radio or TV to create a quiet environment to increase comprehension. Tv and radio are distracting.
- Begin the conversation with everyday topics such as weather, what they had for lunch or breakfast. Make the matter simple and within your knowledge. Do not talk about the case that you have less information (a very personal subject that you may not know)
- Talk about familiar topics that draw their attention and interests, such as family members, special occasions, favorite foods.
- Talk about one topic and avoid discussing different subjects.
- Use simple language using short sentences or answers.
- Avoid speaking fast. Make sure you speak clearly and a bit louder.
- Do not bombard them with different questions and give the older people some time to process the information and respond.
- Give the older person different options to choose (e.g., "do you want chicken or fish?" instead of asking, "what do you like for lunch?"
- Be an active listener. Listen carefully and watch the hints and cues to help you carry a conversation. Make a general comment and let them continue the conversation, and you can catch up on the information you missed previously. Guess in case of having speech impairment or missing the point in the conversation.