| Don't Call Me Sadie: Effective Communication and Interview Strategies for the Elderly |
| Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan, M.S.N., APN |
Course Description:
Various factors play a part in effective communication with elderly
patients: hearing and vision impairment, cognitive loss and
multiple illnesses. Sensitivity and empathy are key to discussing
issues such as driving privileges, institutionalization and end of life
care. This program will discuss and demonstrate effective
communication techniques for communicating with older patients,
how to compensate for vision and hearing loss, tips for discussing
sensitive topics, effective communication about chronic illness and
mental status changes and accommodations for
interviewing/assessment.
Objectives:
At the completion of this program, the participant will be able to:
1. Identify techniques for effective communication with the elderly patient.
2. Identify 2 techniques for compensating for hearing and vision deficits.
3. Identify 5 accommodations that can be made for interviewing or
assessing elderly patients.
4. Script a dialogue with an elderly patient about their health, end of life
care and concerns.
5. Identify 2 approaches for discussing sensitive topics.
Outline:
1. Health care perceptions
A. Views of health care providers
B. Values about health
2. Listening to the older person
A. Establishing rapport
B. Techniques
C. Reducing barriers
3. Components for Hearing and Visual Deficits
4. Obtaining Information
A. Techniques
B. Accommodations
C. Current concerns
D. History
E. Functional status
5. Encouraging Prevention
6. Advanced Directives
7. Sensitive Topics
A. Driving safety
B. Elder abuse/neglect
C. End of life
D. Finances
E. Long term care
F. Mental health
G. Sexuality
H. Urinary incontinence
8. Chronic conditions
A. Education
B. Explaining diagnosis
C. Discussing treatment
9. Breaking bad news
10. Including family/caregivers
11. Talking about cognitive problems
A. Assessing mental status
B. Conveying findings
C. Working with family
12. Keeping Communication Open
A. Tips
B. Techniques
13. Resources
Various factors play a part in effective communication with elderly
patients: hearing and vision impairment, cognitive loss and
multiple illnesses. Sensitivity and empathy are key to discussing
issues such as driving privileges, institutionalization and end of life
care. This program will discuss and demonstrate effective
communication techniques for communicating with older patients,
how to compensate for vision and hearing loss, tips for discussing
sensitive topics, effective communication about chronic illness and
mental status changes and accommodations for
interviewing/assessment.
Objectives:
At the completion of this program, the participant will be able to:
1. Identify techniques for effective communication with the elderly patient.
2. Identify 2 techniques for compensating for hearing and vision deficits.
3. Identify 5 accommodations that can be made for interviewing or
assessing elderly patients.
4. Script a dialogue with an elderly patient about their health, end of life
care and concerns.
5. Identify 2 approaches for discussing sensitive topics.
Outline:
1. Health care perceptions
A. Views of health care providers
B. Values about health
2. Listening to the older person
A. Establishing rapport
B. Techniques
C. Reducing barriers
3. Components for Hearing and Visual Deficits
4. Obtaining Information
A. Techniques
B. Accommodations
C. Current concerns
D. History
E. Functional status
5. Encouraging Prevention
6. Advanced Directives
7. Sensitive Topics
A. Driving safety
B. Elder abuse/neglect
C. End of life
D. Finances
E. Long term care
F. Mental health
G. Sexuality
H. Urinary incontinence
8. Chronic conditions
A. Education
B. Explaining diagnosis
C. Discussing treatment
9. Breaking bad news
10. Including family/caregivers
11. Talking about cognitive problems
A. Assessing mental status
B. Conveying findings
C. Working with family
12. Keeping Communication Open
A. Tips
B. Techniques
13. Resources
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