Effective Communication in Caring for Older Adults
Good communication is an important part of the healing process. Effective doctor–patient communication has research-proven benefits: Patients are more likely to adhere to treatment and have better outcomes, they express greater satisfaction with their treatment, and they are less likely to file malpractice suits.
Studies show that good communication is a teachable skill. Medical students who receive communication training improve dramatically in talking with, assessing, and building relationships with patients. Time management skills also improve.
Interpersonal communication skills are considered so important that they are a core competency identified by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties. Learning—and using—effective communication techniques may help you build more satisfying relationships with older patients and become even more skilled at managing their care.
Special Communication Needs
With older patients, communication can involve special issues. Here are some examples:
- How can you effectively interact with patients facing multiple illnesses or hearing and vision impairments?
- What's the best way to approach sensitive topics, such as driving abilities or end of life?
- Are there best practices to help older patients experiencing confusion or memory loss?
What to Remember
Three points are important to remember:
- Stereotypes about aging and old age can lead patients and health care professionals alike to dismiss or minimize problems as an inevitable decline of aging. Research is teaching people that aging alone does not cause illness, nor does it automatically mean having to live with pain and discomfort.
- Techniques for effective communication may appear at first glance to be time-consuming; however, an initial investment of time can lead to long-term gains for clinicians. You may get to know your patient's life history over the course of several visits rather than trying to get it all in one session, for example.
- Older patients are not all the same. You may see frail 60-year-olds and relatively healthy 80-year-olds. Your patients probably are culturally diverse, with varying socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Some are quite active, while others may be sedentary. You are encouraged to view all older people as individuals who have a wide range of health care needs and questions.
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA). (2017, May 17). Effective communication in caring for older adults. Retrieved September 12, 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov