Communication with the Elderly

Presented by
Dr. Soad H. Abd El Hamid El Tantawy
Lecturer of Gerontological Nursing
Faculty of Nursing
Mansoura University

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 Communication with Elderly
Outline:
 Definition of communication
 Types of communication
 Ways of communication
 Factors affecting communication
 Barriers of communication
 How to communicate with elderly
person
 How to communicate with elderly
person with sensory deficit
 Communication with Alzheimer
patient

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 Introduction
The communication process in general is complex and
can be further complicated by age. One of the biggest
problems when dealing with older patients is that they
are actually more heterogeneous than younger people.

Communication can also be hindered by the normal

aging process, which may involve sensory loss, decline
in memory, slower processing of information, lessening
of power and influence over their own lives, retirement
from work, and separation from family and friends.

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 Definition:
Is the activity of conveying meaningful information.

Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended

recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the
sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication.

The communication process is complete once the receiver has

understood the message of the sender.

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 Elements of communication process
 Sender :
Is the communicator who has the responsibility
to convey actions , words and feeling. Facial
expression and body language convey the same
message .

 Massage :
The information conveyed by the sender . the
receiver change the massage back into feeling and
mental image , massage should be clear and in
familiar terms to the receiver and being understood .

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 Receiver :
Is the individual who listen and interpret the massage. The
receiver understanding is depend on mental function and
interpretation ability .

 Feedback :
Enable the sender to determine whether the massage was
correctly interpreted simply by the receiver. Restate the
massage is a type of feedback, sender ask question that allow
the receiver for clarification .

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 Ways of Communications
 Two way communication : Is a dynamic process in which
exchange ideas and thoughts occurs as a continuous process,
require actively involved of receiver and provide feedback .

 One way communication : Allows the sender to remains in

control situation and the receiver remains passive. Is not the
most effective type of communication .

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 Factors influencing communication
Personal factors:

 Perception : A person perception is essential element in

communication. People can see the same object and see
different things.

 Values : values influence the process of communication

because people values , like their perception .

 Culture : Each culture provide its member notion about how

the world is structured and teach people how to use language ,
space to communicate certain massage and technique that
differ from culture to culture.

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 Attitude : A nurse attitude toward the elderly play a major role as
elderly need to be respected and feeling valued so the nurse
should convey trust and empathy through verbal and non verbal
communication .

 Trust : Trust is central to a therapeutic nurse – relationship .

without a sense of trust the interaction is superficial , trust implies
confidence , dependability and credibility in a relationship .

Environmental factors :
Seating arrangement , room comfort , movement of
chairs ,object that facilitate or distract , noise , lack of
privacy.

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 Types of communication
The two type of communication are verbal and non
verbal. 10% of all communication is verbal and 90%
is nonverbal .

Verbal communication :
It is the use of words to express thoughts , feeling
, attitude. When communicating with older adult
feedback is essential to explore thoughts of the older
adults and ask for more explanations .

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 Informing : Use direct statement regarding facts , a good
information statement is clear , concise ,and expresses in
words that elderly can understand.

 Direct questioning : Are helpful when the nurse need to

obtain specific information, is appropriate when information
must obtained quickly .

 Open ended technique : Allows the person to express more

about their feeling and perception also allow the nurse to
verify that the information exchanged is accurate

 Active listening : The nurse pays attention to verbal and

nonverbal communication using eye contact and facial
expression

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Nonverbal communication :
The most accurate form of communication , is the way of
communication without the use of words people use their
facial expression , eye contact , gesture and body language .

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 Barriers of communications
 Inappropriate reassurances.
 Making judgments .

 Giving advice, telling the

person what should be
avoided .
 Challenging.

 Improper questioning

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 Effective communication
 Be aware of the person's health issues.
 Allow the elderly person to reminisce, and
to grieve.
 Respect the elderly person’s background,
knowledge, and values.
 Be attentive to the environment in which
you are communicating
 Speak clearly and articulately, and make eye
contact.
 Adjust your volume appropriately
 Use clear and precise questions and
sentences
 Employ visual aids, if possible.
 Take it slow, be patient, and smile.
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 Communicating with the hearing
impaired
 Check to see if the hearing aid is in the person’s ear.
Also check to see that it is turned on.
 Wait until you are directly in front of the person, you
have that individual’s attention and you are close
enough to the person before you begin speaking.
 Be sure that the individual sees you approach

 Face the hard-of-hearing person directly and be on

the same level with him/her whenever possible.
 Keep your hands away from your face while talking.

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 Recognize that hard-of-hearing people hear and
understand less well when they are tired or ill.
 Reduce or eliminate background noise as much as
possible .
 Speak in a normal fashion without shouting.

 If the person has difficulty understanding something, find

a different way of saying the same thing, rather than
repeating the original words.
 Use simple, short sentences to make your conversation
easier to understand.
 Write messages if necessary.

 Allow time to converse with a hearing impaired person.

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 Communicating with the deaf.
 Write messages if the person can read.
 Use a pictogram grid or other device
with illustrations to facilitate
communication.
 Be concise with your statements and
questions.
 Utilize as many other methods of
communication as possible to convey
your message (i.e. body language).
 Spend time with the person, so you are
not rushed or under pressure.
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 Communicating with the visually
impaired.
 Describe the room layout, other people who are in the
room, and what is happening.
 Tell the person if you are leaving. Let him/her know if
others will remain in the room or if he/she will be alone.
 Allow the person to take your arm for guidance.

 Ask how you may help: increasing the light, reading the
menu, describing where things are, or in some other way.
 Call out the person’s name before touching. Touching lets
a person know that you are listening.

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 Allow the person to touch you.
 Use the words "see" and "look" normally.

 Use large movement, wide gestures and contrasting

colors.
 Explain what you are doing as you are doing it, for
example, looking for something or putting the
wheelchair away.
 Describe walks in routine places. Use sound and smell
clues.
 Encourage familiarity and independence whenever
possible.
 Leave things where they are unless the person asks you
to move something.
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 Communicating with persons with
Alzheimer’s Disease
 Always approach the person from the
front, or within his/her line of vision .
 Speak in a normal tone of voice .

 Face the person as you talk to him/her.

 Avoid a setting with a lot of sensory

stimulation, like a big room where
many people may be sitting or talking,
a high-traffic area or a very noisy
place.

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 Maintain eye contact and smile.
 Be respectful of the person’s .
 Use a low-pitched, slow speaking voice which older adults
hear best.
 Ask only one question at a time. More than one question will
increase confusion.
 Repeat key words if the person does not understand the first
time around.
 Nod and smile only if what the person said is understood.

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 Thank you

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