Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum NECC : 1.3 adaptation & communicatioN

1. Caring for Our Elders: Adaptation & Communication Skills 1.3 Native Elder Caregiver CurriculumNECC: 1.3adaptation & communicatioN Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills related to Sensory Systems

2. 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” less Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Adaptation & Communication Vision • Prevention & Maintenance • Yearly eye exams • Regular updates in eyeglasses Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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 pictures Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Adaptation & Communication: HEARING • Encourage the elder to have an expert hearing exam to see if a hearing aid would help • Not all hearing problems can be resolved by a hearing aid… need evaluation Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills

16. Adaptation & Communication: HEARING • If an elder has a hearing aid, encourage its use • Be 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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 said Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills

22. Adaptation & Communication: HEARING • 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. Caring for Our Elders: 1.3 Adaptation & Communication Skills