Southern Luzon State University

College of Allied Medicine

CARE OF THE OLDER

PERSON

MODULE 11

TITLES: COMMUNICATING WITH OLDER PERSONS

A. INFORMATION SHARING
B. FORMAL OR THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
C. INFORMAL OR SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
D. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
E. ACCEPTANCE, DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN COMMUNICATION
F. BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
G. SKILLS AND TECHNIQUE

Class schedule: Theory: 2 units- 36 hours , RLE 1 unit 51 hours

Monday 1:30-3:30 pm Sec A
Monday 4:00-6:00 pm Sec B

Dear students
This module is dedicated to the students of Southern Luzon
State University at College of Allied Medicine in support to distant
learning during this time of pandemic, we hope that the students who
read this book will prepare you to shape your future in health care.
Southern Luzon State
University Brgy Kulapi,
Lucban Quezon
jsabas@slsu.edu.ph

NCM 114 Care of the Older Adult | Prepared by: Jessica A. Sabas and Thelma R. Babia MAN SY 2020-2021
 Southern Luzon State University
College of Allied Medicine

0966 856 2827

[https://
classroom.google.com/
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NCM 114 Care of the Older Adult | Prepared by: Jessica A. Sabas and Thelma R. Babia MAN SY 2020-2021
 Southern Luzon State University
College of Allied Medicine

OVERVIEW

Communication is a process in which people affect one another through exchange of information,
ideas and feelings. As a member of the health team nurses need to communicate information about
clients accurately, timely and in effective manner. The quality of client care greatly depends on the
caregiver’s ability to communicate with one another. all health care providers require the same
information about the client so that they can plan an organized, comprehensive care plan. Unless this
care plan is communicated to all members of the health care team, care becomes fragmented, repetition
of task occurs and therapies may be delayed or even may affect client outcome, resulting in delayed
recovery.

As the well known saying, if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day but if you teach a man
how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime, signifies the importance of client education. The teaching learning
process empowers clients and usually enables them to achieve a higher level of wellness or to manage
specific healthcare needs

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the subject the student will be able to:

o Appreciate the importance of communication

o Practice communicating with older adult through nurse-client relationship
o Identify the barriers of communication.

NCM 114 Care of the Older Adult | Prepared by: Jessica A. Sabas and Thelma R. Babia MAN SY 2020-2021
 Southern Luzon State University
College of Allied Medicine

DISCUSSION

Hello for now, let us practice the power of communication. Either by your seatmate or with your
aged family member. As we all know, two modes of which is the verbal where we use spoken or
written words, and the non-verbal communication where we uses gestures, facial expression,
posture/gait body movements, physical appearance (body language), eye contact, tone of voice.
Sharing of information is one kind of communication, your experiences and achievements that
can be shared to your bff to your mamita, wowa, lolo or lola. It is good to be with them and talk
about anything under the sun, they can talk their experiences when they were young. Memories
are retained well rather than the recent happenings. What about the therapeutic
communication, where do we usually use this kind of communication. I leave you responsible to
practice in front of the mirror, or to anybody at your home or in the neighborhood. Self talk is
welcome, as if practice for the upcoming return demonstration.

Where in particular venue of your client happen an informal communication? Wherein

you can share your jokes and laughter. Can the older adult still relate with you? With what you
are talking about and vice versa? Is acceptance , dignity and respect achievable during a nurse-
client interaction? What are those approaches that can be applied so you can establish trust in a
68 year old female? We all know that trust is the foundation of a positive nurse-client
relationship.

Non-verbal communication is a more accurate expression of a person’s thoughts and

feelings than verbal communication. When assessing, consider the cultural influences. With
regards to barriers to communication, try to reread and refresh. Major barriers of communication
are failure to listen to the client, improperly decoding the client’s intended message, and placing
the nurse’s needs above the client’s needs.

Lifespan considerations: communication with Elders. They may have physical or cognitive
problems that necessitate nursing interventions for improvement of communication skills. Some
of the most common are:
Sensory deficit, hearing and vision
Cognitive as in dementia
Neurological deficit from strokes, aphasia and lack of movement
Psychosocial such as depression.

Recognition of specific needs and obtaining appropriate resources for clients can greatly
increase their socialization and quality of life interventions directed toward improving
communication in clients with these special needs:
-make sure the assistive devices are in good working condition; eyeglass, hearing aid
- make referrals to appropriate speech therapy
- make use of communication aids (board, computer, pictures)
- keep environmental distraction minimum
-speak in short simple sentences, one subject at a time, reinforce or repeat what is said
- always face the person when speaking, coming up behind someone maybe frightening
- include family and friends in conversation.
- use reminiscing , either in individual or in group conversations to maintain memory
connections, and to enhance self-identity and self-esteem in the older adult
4

NCM 114 Care of the Older Adult | Prepared by: Jessica A. Sabas and Thelma R. Babia MAN SY 2020-2021
 Southern Luzon State University
College of Allied Medicine

- when verbal expression and nonverbal expression are incongruent, believe the
nonverbal. Clarification of this and attentiveness to their feelings will help promote a feeling of
caring and acceptance.
- find out what has been important and has meaning to the person and try to maintain
these things as much as possible. Even simple things such as bedtime rituals become important if
they are lost in a hospital or extended care setting.
- do not shout, use your normal voice when communicating with them.

EVALUATION

Picture out that you are a gerontologic nurse in a facility, make your own scenario of
nurse-client interaction, using different communication techniques.

Reference: Kozier and Erb. Fundamentals of Nursing. Concepts, Process and Practice. 10 th
edition. 2016

NCM 114 Care of the Older Adult | Prepared by: Jessica A. Sabas and Thelma R. Babia MAN SY 2020-2021