Module 4 Lesson 8 Communicating with Older Adults PDF
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This module details communication techniques and considerations for working with older adults in the healthcare environment. It covers verbal and nonverbal communication, social and therapeutic communication, and how cultural factors influence communication.
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Lesson 8: Communicating with Older Adults Lesson 9: Maintaining Fluid Balance and Meeting Nutritional Needs Objectives: 1. Identify communication techniques that are effective with older adults. 2. Define empathetic listening. 3. Identify the significance of nonverbal communic...
Lesson 8: Communicating with Older Adults Lesson 9: Maintaining Fluid Balance and Meeting Nutritional Needs Objectives: 1. Identify communication techniques that are effective with older adults. 2. Define empathetic listening. 3. Identify the significance of nonverbal communication with older adults. 4. Discuss the verbal communication techniques used when sending and receiving messages. 5. Differentiate between social and therapeutic communication. 6. Discuss ways communication is affected by culture. 7. Discuss how to meet the fluid balance and nutritional needs of older adults. Communication is the process of exchanging information (i.e., sending messages back and forth between individuals or groups of people). Information Sharing (Framing the Message) Verbal Communication ▪ Send & receive messages using words ▪ Some are formal, structured, & precise ▪ Some are informal, unstructured, & flexible ▪ Formal or therapeutic communications have a specific intent & purpose ▪ Informal or social conversations are less specific; used for socialization ▪ Nurses must be effective in both formal & informal communication ▪ Must know how & when to use each type. Nonverbal Communication ⮚ Takes place without words ⮚ We communicate all the time, whether we are aware of it or not. ⮚ Importance of understanding nonverbal communication can be summed up in the statement, “What you are saying(nonverbally)is so loud I can’t hear you.” ⮚ Approximately 38% of communication is transmitted by paralinguistic cues (i.e., tone, pitch, volume of voice), & 55% is transmitted by body cues. Formal or Therapeutic Communication Therapeutic Communication ØA conscious & deliberate process used to gather information ØRelated to a patient’s overall health status ØRespond with verbal & nonverbal approaches ØPromotes patient’s well-being or improves patient’s understanding of ongoing care ØKnowledge individual’s educational background & interests Provides nurses with a starting point for conversation (cont.) Effective verbal communication requires: -The ability to use a variety of techniques when sending & receiving messages ⮚ This type of communication looks easy & natural when performed by an experienced health professional ⮚ But it is a skill that requires time, effort, & practice to develop. Informal or Social Communication Social Communication Small talk, pleasantries, & conversations about the weather, a favorite television show, or the latest news can demonstrate that the nurse thinks of the patient as a real person, not just as a patient Remember that it’s okay to laugh at yourself, but never at the other person ⮚ Symbols ⮚ Uniform styles & colors ✔ Help distinguish the various caregivers Nurses may not place much importance on wearing a uniform, it does play a role in communication ✔ Nurses may not always wear a distinguishing uniform or they may wear scrub suits; ✔ This may be confusing to the older adult but Tone of Voice ØNonverbal messages are so strong Ørespond to the emotion we perceive from the tone of voice Ømay not even hear the words ØShouting is often associated with anger or displeasure Ø DO NOT shout in an attempt to communicate with someone who is hard of hearing ØSpeak in low tone of voice close to their good ear Body Language ⮚ communicate many things by how we move, stand, sit, and position of our bodies ⮚ Don’t create barriers between us and our patients ⮚ We must watch messages that patients are communicating through body movements Space, Distance and Position The study of the use of personal space in communication is referred to as proxemics. Personal space refers to how close we allow someone to get to us before we feel uncomfortable. Gestures Gestures are a specific type of nonverbal communication intended to convey ideas Example: nodding the head up and down means yes in most cultures, but to some Eskimo tribes it means no. -helpful for people who cannot use words. Facial Expressions -another form of communication. -Smiles, frowns, and grimaces -Fear, anger, joy, and a variety of other emotions can be conveyed by a simple change in facial expression. Eye contact is often interpreted to be a sign of attentiveness and acceptance – Filipinos American nurses -maintain eye contact when speaking with their patients. Arabic persons- direct eye contact impolite and aggressive Native North Americans also regard direct eye contact as improper -staring at the floor during conversations shows that they are listening carefully to the speaker. Hispanics use eye contact only when deemed appropriate by their cultural standards. -based on age, sex, social position, economic status, and position of authority. For instance, Hispanic elders speaking with children use eye contact, but it is considered inappropriate for Hispanic children to look directly at their elders when speaking to them. In a healthcare environment, Hispanic patients expect nurses and other healthcare providers to give direct eye contact when interacting with them, but it is not expected that Hispanic patients reciprocate with direct eye contact when receiving medical and nursing care. Pace or Speed of Communication Patience and active listening are greatly needed skills when working with older adults. “Slower is better” should be the motto impressed in the mind of anyone who chooses to work with older adults. Time and Timing Timing is related to the pace of communication The amount of time a person must wait after seeking attention is important. Delays in response to a call light or direct request from a person may be interpreted as a lack of concern, even if this is not intended. The response to this perception may manifest in anger, displeasure, anxiety, fear, and many other feelings. Studies have shown that nurses take longer to respond to terminally ill patients. Nurses also tend to give delayed responses to demanding individuals. This can set up a vicious cycle, because the longer a person waits for a response, the greater his or her anger, fear, and anxiety becomes. This only increases the demanding behaviors, which often occur in an attempt to reduce fear. If the older adult’s needs are dealt with promptly, the number of demands tends to decrease not increase. Making older adults wait unnecessarily constitutes a subtle form of abuse. Touch -form of communication. -No words are required, and there is no need for high- level sensory or cognitive functioning. - When all else fails, touch is left. -Caring touch is a basic need of all humans, and many older adults suffer from touch deprivation. Tell something… Silence- it is seen as an absence of speech Advantages: ⮚ Promotes healthy communication in relationships ⮚ Fosters active listening ⮚ Supports effective negotiations Disadvantages: ⮚ Silence can cause miscommunication ⮚ Negative silent communication can be toxic Empathy involves attempting to understand the other person's perspective and feelings and communicate that understanding back to them. Compassion, dignity and respect in health care - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVF0273iHus Barriers to Communication ⮚ Hearing impairment ⮚ Aphasia- comprehension and communication (reading, speaking, or writing) disorder resulting from damage or injury to the specific area in the brain. ⮚ Dementia- a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. ⮚ Cultural Differences Skills and techniques ⮚ Informing ⮚ Direct questioning ⮚ Using open-ended techniques ⮚ Confrontation ⮚ Communicating with visitors and families ⮚ Delivering bad news ⮚ Effective communication Older adult/ health care team Lesson 9: Maintaining Fluid Balance and Meeting Nutritional Needs