Communication Best Practices for Aging Adults: Gerontology - Fundamentals of Nursing | @LevelUpRN

Summary

In this video, Ellis discusses best practices for effective communication with older adults, emphasizing the importance of considering sensory and neurological changes. Key tips include providing ample time for communication, ensuring assistive devices are functional, controlling background noise, and speaking in a way that's easily understood. Ellis highlights the importance of adjusting the environment and communication methods, like using a lower tone for those with hearing loss and rephrasing questions if needed. These practices are vital for improving understanding and fostering meaningful interactions with older adults.

Takeaways

• 😀 Allow ample time for communication with older adults, providing breaks if necessary during longer sessions.
• 😀 Ensure that assistive devices like hearing aids or glasses are in place and functioning properly.
• 😀 Make sure the environment is conducive to communication—adequate lighting and noise reduction are key.
• 😀 When asking questions, do so one at a time and wait for a response before asking the next.
• 😀 Reduce background noise, such as turning off the TV, especially for patients with hearing loss.
• 😀 Gain the patient’s attention before speaking and face them so they can see your facial expressions and lips.
• 😀 Never shout at patients—raise your tone only when necessary, and avoid increasing volume if they cannot hear.
• 😀 Lower the tone of your voice to help patients with age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) hear more clearly.
• 😀 If a patient has trouble understanding, try rephrasing your statement rather than repeating it louder.
• 😀 Encourage viewers to subscribe, like, and comment if they found the video helpful, and share with classmates.

Q & A

What should be considered when communicating with older adults?

When communicating with older adults, it's important to consider sensory and neurological changes, allowing ample time for communication, and potentially providing rest and breaks during longer interactions.

Why is it important to ensure assistive devices are functional when communicating with older adults?

Assistive devices like hearing aids or glasses must be functional because a non-functional device, such as a hearing aid with a dead battery, will not provide the support needed for effective communication.

What is the recommendation for handling sensory deficits, like hearing loss, during communication?

For sensory deficits like hearing loss, it's crucial to control the environment by reducing background noise (e.g., turning off the TV), gaining the patient’s attention before speaking, and facing the patient so they can see your facial expressions and lips.

What technique can be used to help a patient with hearing loss understand better?

One technique is to lower the tone of your voice, as individuals with presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) often lose the ability to hear higher frequencies, so speaking in a lower tone can aid in clarity.

What should you do if an older adult is having difficulty understanding what you're saying?

If a patient has trouble understanding, avoid repeating the same thing louder. Instead, try rephrasing your statement or question in a different way to enhance understanding.

Why is it important to allow breaks during long assessments with older adults?

Older adults may need breaks during longer assessments because of sensory or cognitive fatigue. Allowing time for rest helps maintain effective communication and reduces the risk of miscommunication.

What role does lighting play when communicating with older adults?

Adequate lighting is important to help older adults read or see clearly, especially if they have visual impairments. Ensuring good lighting can make communication more effective.

What are the potential consequences of not adjusting communication for older adults with hearing loss?

Not adjusting communication for older adults with hearing loss can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and a breakdown in the communication process, negatively impacting care and understanding.

How can you help an older adult with visual impairments during communication?

For an older adult with visual impairments, ensure they are in a well-lit room and, if necessary, enlarge the font on written materials to make reading easier.

What is the importance of facing the patient during a conversation with someone who has hearing loss?

Facing the patient is crucial because it allows them to see your facial expressions and read your lips, which can greatly assist in understanding, especially if they have hearing loss.