Effectively Communicating with our Elderly Patients

The act of communicating is an important aspect in our lives. With it, we can understand as we listen to what other say and at the same time, we are able to let other people hear our own thoughts and opinions. When you search the definition of communication in Google, you are given two explanations:

1. “the imparting or exchanging of information or news”
2. “means of connection between people or places, in particular”

Because of these definitions, we are encouraged to have an effective communication with the people around us. But what does effective communication mean? Before we answer this question, let us first get to know the process of communication. According to www.study.com, the process of communication involves 5 components and these are:

• The sender
  • The source of the information
• Encoding of the message
  • Constructing the meaning of the message
  • Done by the sender
• Channel of communication
  • System or method that is used for communicating with other people (www.dictionary.cambridge.org)
• The receiver
  • The one who needs to receive the information
• Decoding of the message
  • Extracting the meaning of the message into terms the receiver is able to easily understand (Wikipedia)

The sender will know if his or her message was understood by the receiver if the receiver offers a feedback to the information given by the sender. If the communication is a two-way process, the sender should be able to engage in a discussion with the receiver. Once the sender was able to get a feedback from his or her receiver, it is an indication that their communication is effective.

When our caregivers here in Angelic Love Home Care, a non-medical home care agency in Framingham MA, are caring for our elderly patients, they see to it that they are able to exercise effective communication with their patients. In doing so, they can:

• Provide their patients what they need.

  Asking what our elderly patients need is easier said than done. Some older adults may act stubbornly and show you that they are doing fine even if they are not and others will have a hard time expressing their thoughts because of their present circumstances and overall well-being.

  Effective communication allows you to provide what your patients exactly needs. It can help you gain access to their personal necessities and allow you to pamper them right.

• Acquire the values of compassion and patience.

  Being a caregiver requires us to be compassionate and patient to our clients. With that being said, how do you measure one’s level of compassion and patience? Each one of us has our own ways of determining but we typically have a common determinant: the way a person communicates.

  When a person opens his or her mouth to voice out and communicate, we are given an idea what kind of a person that individual truly is. If a caregiver puts himself or herself in the shoes of their patient, they will be able to become empathetic which could then lead to acquire the values of compassion and patience.

• Encourage the elderly to feel respected and relevant.

  As we grow old, we are given wisdom through lessons we have garnered from the experiences we have been through. So, once we grew older, it is expected that people will turn into you to ask for your advice.

But other people look down on older people because of their individual circumstances and overall well-being. The elderly themselves also feel this inferiority and may feel bad for themselves because of it. Once a caregiver communicates effectively and politely, the elderly will be able to feel respected and relevant, forgetting the feelings of insecurity and dread.

Caregivers exist in order to provide people the care they deserve. That is why we encourage every caregiver to talk to their clients with ease, comfort, love and patience. Use the right language and be sensitive according to the needs of your elderly patient.

For more blogs regarding how to effectively communicate to your patients, especially those who are wrinkled with age, visit our website at www.angeliclovehomecare.com.