native elder caregiver curriculum necc: 1.3 adaptation & communication caring for our elders:...
TRANSCRIPT
NATIVE ELDER CAREGIVER CURRICULUMNECC: 1.3
ADAPTATION & COMMUNICATION
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3Adaptation & Communication Skills related to Sensory Systems
1Caring for Our Elders: Adaptation & Communication Skills 1.3
Adaptation & Communication Importance of Adaptation
Safety is improved Injuries are prevented
Independence is maintained Self-care is maximized
Social roles & connections are better maintained
Family & caregivers “worry” lessCaring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication
Skills
2
Important to “Check it Out!”
Just because someone is an elderly, does not always mean that the loss of hearing, vision, or other sensory perceptions are “normal”
Many changes in vision, hearing, touch, etc. are related to illness
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
3
Sensory Deficits: Check it Out! Important to “check it out”
Find out if there is an underlying problem that is causing sensory deficits !
Some problems are totally reversible with proper medical treatment !
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
4
Adaptation & Communication Vision
Clinic exam right away for symptoms such as:Burning, pain, headaches
Blurry vision, double vision, spots, redness, “runny eye”
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
5
Adaptation & Communication
Vision Prevention &
Maintenance Yearly eye exams
Regular updates in eyeglasses
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
6
Adaptation & Communication: VISION
Some Helpful ways to assist people with visual impairments: prevent glare Use several softer lights
instead of one big glaring light
Offer sunglasses or a hat or visor for use when outdoors
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
7
Adaptation & Communication: VISION …
Place sheer curtains over windows to prevent glare
Try to use bright colors to make it easier to see & identify things
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
8
Adaptation & Communication: VISION …
Use contrasting colors for steps, changes in floor levels, doorways
Place things to be used within the elder’s visual field
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
9
Adaptation & Communication: VISION
If a magnifying glass works, keep one handy for reading
Read for the elder Play the radio or music for the
elder Offer Large Print magazines &
books Offer books with brightly colored
picturesCaring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication
Skills
10
Adaptation & Communication: VISION
Helpful Ways to assist elderly people who are blind: Talk to them so they know where
you are when you are in the room Touch their arm gently to let them
know your location when sitting near them
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
11
Adaptation & Communication: VISION
Helpful ways to assist with blindness ... Keep commonly used items in the
same place & close to the elder’s reach
Encourage & teach the elder how to find these items independently by touch
Describe things to the elder, such as the food on a plate they are eating
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
12
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING Helpful ways to help communication
with the elderly who have a hearing impairment:
Try to eliminate or reduce noise! Face the elder so they can see your
lips & facial expressions Speak clearly, slowly, & distinctly
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
13
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING Helpful ways to assist with
hearing ... If the hearing is not equal in both
ears, speak directly into the stronger ear
Use gestures to point to things while speaking
Encourage the elder to point to things they need
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
14
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
Encourage the elder to have an expert hearing exam to see if a hearing aid would helpNot all hearing problems can be resolved by a hearing aid… need evaluation
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
15
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
If an elder has a hearing aid, encourage its useBe sure the hearing aid is fitted for comfort
Teach the elder how to use it in the most effective way
Be sure the batteries are working
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
16
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
Repeat what was said if the elder requests you to say something again
Try to re-state what was said in a different way, using different words
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
17
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
Use a lower tone of voice Many elders can normally hear
lower pitched sounds better than high-pitched sounds
Shouting does not help!
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
18
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
Be as respectful & patient as possible It is very difficult
sometimes to communicate… …and it is very hard on the elder who might give up if caregivers or other people get annoyed
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
19
Adaptation & Communication:HEARING Write things down if the
person is “just not getting” what you are trying to say
Use flash cards for familiar & commonly used requests Can easily make up a “set” of
common terms with words & pictures
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
20
Adaptation & Communication:HEARING Keep a pad of paper and
“bold colored” markers next to the elder for visiting
Validate if elder is really understanding what is being said If not, repeat and / or write
down what was saidCaring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication
Skills
21
Adaptation & Communication: HEARING
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
22
Use a stethoscope if you have one! Have the elder wear the
stethoscope in the ears Then… the caregiver can talk into
the round flat piece (diaphragm) to amplify the voice
Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills
23