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Talk to meTalk to me

nicely, please!nicely, please!

TThank you.hank you.

Presented by BonniePresented by Bonnie CauthornCauthorn, Design Source, Richmond, VA, Design Source, Richmond, VA

Effective communications for caregiversEffective communications for caregivers

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Caregivers are on the front lines for providingCaregivers are on the front lines for providing

quality service to elderly persons.quality service to elderly persons.

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Arent I busy enough withoutArent I busy enough without

thinking about the way I speak?thinking about the way I speak?

Why should I care aboutWhy should I care about

communicating better?communicating better?

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Nursing Home Residents Bill of Rights (partial)Nursing Home Residents Bill of Rights (partial)

Right to be fully informed about services, charges and rulesRight to be fully informed about services, charges and rules

Right to private communicationsRight to private communications

Right to be treated with consideration, dignity and respectRight to be treated with consideration, dignity and respect

Right to make independent choicesRight to make independent choices

Right to receive information in a language he/sheRight to receive information in a language he/she

understandsunderstands

Right to present grievances without fear of reprisalRight to present grievances without fear of reprisal

Right to complain to state agenciesRight to complain to state agencies

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Obstacles to good communicationsObstacles to good communications

AND I wasnt very nice eitherAND I wasnt very nice either

LanguageLanguage

differencesdifferences

Viewpoint:Viewpoint:Mars vs. VenusMars vs. Venus

Personal stylesPersonal styles

Cultural stylesCultural styles

GenerationalGenerational

stylesstyles

She/he isShe/he is

stubborn/stubborn/unreasonableunreasonable

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Special considerations whenSpecial considerations whencommunicating with older adults:communicating with older adults:

Difficulty hearingDifficulty hearing

Low vision prevents pickingLow vision prevents picking

up body language cuesup body language cues Difficulty speaking clearly orDifficulty speaking clearly or

loudlyloudly

Memory lossMemory loss Need to grieve or reminisceNeed to grieve or reminisce

Life experiences varyLife experiences vary

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Breaking the code: what IT ISBreaking the code: what IT IS NOTNOTsaidsaid

I dont want to do thatI dont want to do that

(maybe physically cannot(maybe physically cannotdo it anymore)do it anymore)

I dont want steak orI dont want steak orsoupsoup

(cant cut or chew it or I will(cant cut or chew it or I willspill it on myself )spill it on myself )

I dont want to go to theI dont want to go to thebathroombathroom

(its too far, or the pull(its too far, or the pull--upsups

are too cumbersome)are too cumbersome)

I dont want to go on theI dont want to go on thetrip to the malltrip to the mall

(too much walking, or I dont(too much walking, or I donthave money for shopping)have money for shopping)

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Was it something I said? Probably.Was it something I said? Probably.

Sweetie,Sweetie,

honey, girlhoney, girl

Sweetie,Sweetie,

honey, girlhoney, girl Mr. or Mrs.Mr. or Mrs.NameName

Mr. or Mrs.Mr. or Mrs.NameName

DiaperDiaperDiaperDiaperBriefs,Briefs,

pantiespantiesBriefs,Briefs,

pantiespanties

Hes on theHes on thepotpot

Hes on theHes on thepotpot He isHe is

unavailableunavailable

right nowright now

He isHe isunavailableunavailable

right nowright now

You needYou needtoto

You needYou needtoto Would youWould you

like tolike to

Would youWould you

like tolike to

FeederFeederFeederFeeder Person whoPerson whoneeds helpneeds help

with feedingwith feeding

Person whoPerson whoneeds helpneeds help

with feedingwith feeding

NursingNursinghomehome

NursingNursinghomehome CommunityCommunity

care, lifecare, lifecentercenter

CommunityCommunitycare, lifecare, life

centercenter

PatientPatientPatientPatientResident, myResident, my

friendfriendResident, myResident, my

friendfriend

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NonNon--verbal cues and body languageverbal cues and body languagesay so much aboutsay so much about YOUYOU

Facial expressionsFacial expressions

GesturesGestures Tone, volume, inflections and pitch of voiceTone, volume, inflections and pitch of voice Posture and movementPosture and movement Invading personal spaceInvading personal space

Blinking, staring, avoidingBlinking, staring, avoiding TouchTouch Personal appearancePersonal appearance

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PLEASEPLEASE

THANKTHANKYOUYOU

EXCUSEEXCUSEMEME

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Credits:Credits: Growing Elder Population Will Increase Need for Caregivers, www.

eldercarelink.com Bathing Sparky, by Gwendolyn DeGeest, www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.Com

National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform

How to Have More Effective Communication with the Elderly by Sharon OBrien,

www.senior-living.about.com Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide , Hugh Delehanty and ElinorGinzler, AARP, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. NY, NY, 2005.

Mayday, Karen Schoeneman, www.pioneernetwork.net/CultureChange/language.

How to Communicate: Improve Your Relationships With Effective Communication

Skills, Elizabeth Scott, http://stress.about.com/od/relationships/ht/healthycomm.htm Fourteen Friends Guide to Eldercaring, Capital Books, Inc. , Sterling, VA @1999.

Types of Nonverbal Communication by Kendra Van Wagner,http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/

Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy?, Joseph A. Ilardo and Carole R. Rothman,

VanderWyk & Burnham, Acton, MA, 2006.

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