Effective communications for caregivers

Talk to me
nicely, please!
Thank you.

Presented by Bonnie Cauthorn

Cauthorn,, Design Source, Richmond, VA
Caregivers are on the front lines for providing
quality service to elderly persons.
Aren’t I busy enough without
thinking about the way I speak?

Why should I care about

communicating better?
Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights (partial)

Right to be fully informed about services, charges and rules

Right to private communications

Right to be treated with consideration, dignity and respect

Right to make independent choices

Right to receive information in a language he/she
understands
Right to present grievances without fear of reprisal

Right to complain to state agencies

Obstacles to good communications
She/he is Language
stubborn/ differences
unreasonable

Generational
styles

Cultural styles Viewpoint:

Mars vs. Venus

Personal styles

AND … I wasn’t very nice either

Special considerations when
communicating with older adults:

• Difficulty hearing
• Low vision prevents picking
up body language cues
• Difficulty speaking clearly or
loudly
• Memory loss
• Need to grieve or reminisce
• Life experiences vary
Breaking the code: what IT IS NOT said
“I don’t want to do that”
(maybe physically cannot
do it anymore)

I don’t want to go on the “I don’t want steak or

trip to the mall“ soup”
(too much walking, or I don’t (can’t cut or chew it or I will
have money for shopping) spill it on myself )

“I don’t want to go to the

bathroom”
(it’s too far, or the pull-
pull-ups
are too cumbersome)
Was it something I said? Probably.
Sweetie,
honey, girl Mr. or Mrs.
Name
Feeder Person who
needs help
with feeding
Diaper
Briefs,
panties
Nursing
home Community
care, life
He’s on the center
pot He is
unavailable
right now

Patient
Resident, my
You need friend
to Would you
like to
Non
Non--verbal cues and body language
say so much about YOU

• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Tone, volume, inflections and pitch of voice
• Posture and movement
• Invading personal space
• Blinking, staring, avoiding
• Touch
• Personal appearance
EXCUSE
PLEASE
ME

THANK
YOU
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 Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
• “How to Have More Effective Communication with the Elderly” by Sharon O’Brien,
www.senior-living.about.com
• Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide , Hugh Delehanty and Elinor
Ginzler, 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.