2. Strategies for communication with elderly people

In communication contact with older people, we should keep some basic steps:

  • Make sure that the environment is communication-friendly (quiet, well lit, well arranged for face-to-face interactions, etc.).
  • Let's ajust the speech rate, the content, and other elements to abilities and limits of a person (taking into account their communication strengths and weaknesses).
  • Let's focus on topic related to person's needs and daily issues, using his/her vocabulary.
  • Let's communicate with respect and understanding (take extra time for communication, confirm understanding with feed-back, etc.).
  • Make sure that communication (sensory) aids (eye glasses, hearing aids, communication devices, memory aids, etc.) are available and used, if a person needs it.
  • Let's listen to older people - they need it, and they also have a lot to tell us...

Watch the video and write down some important general principles which should be considered in communication with elderly people:



Communication Accomodation Theory says, that the one who wants to communicate effectively with a senior is expected to make some communication adjustments to compensate any communication difficulties of the older individual (Worral & Hickson, 2003).