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While communicating with elderly people who have vision problems is much easier than communicating with those who have hearing problems, it can still be a huge challenge for most people. For those who are constantly responsible for caring for an elderly loved one, or even if you are just visiting your loved one in a Houston nursing home, here are some tips that will be able to help you communicate effectively with them. When entering a room alongside someone who is visually impaired, take the time to describe the room’s layout, point out anyone else who might be in the room by name, and explain what kind of activities are going on in the room. If you need to leave the room at any time, make sure you let them know if or when you will be back. Also, let them know who else will be in the room with them or if they will be alone. When walking alongside someone who is visually impaired, allow them to take your arm for guidance. Help them to use whatever amount of vision that remains with them by subtly pointing out obstacles in their path. Whenever you speak, start out by addressing the person you are speaking to by name. That way your loved one will be able to more easily follow a conversation and know when he/she is being spoken to. Offer your assistance in every situation, such as increasing the amount of light in a room, by reading a menu or sign, or by describing where things are in a room. Before making any physical contact with your loved one, call out their name so they know you are there, otherwise you might startle them. Subtle physical contact is a great way to let a person know you are listening to them. You should also allow them to feel comfortable enough to touch you as well. Try to treat them like they can see as well as anyone else in the room by using the words “see” and “look” like you normally would in any other conversation. If your loved one is only legally blind and not totally blind, they will still be able to identify large movements and wide gestures with contrasting colors and bold shapes. Explain your actions as you do them, such as putting something away and searching for something. You should try to encourage your loved one to be independent and become familiar with their surroundings as much as possible. When a visually impaired person has become familiar with their surroundings, it is important not to move furniture or other objects around the room, as this will confuse them. Communicating with elders who suffer from Aphasia can be even more difficult than communicating with the visually impaired. Aphasia is a total or partial loss of the power to use or understand words. You would usually find this in patients who have suffered from a stroke or other kind of brain damage. There are two kinds of people with Aphasia: expressive (which means they are able to understand what you say) and receptive (which means they are not able to understand what you say). There are some patients who suffer from both kinds of this impediment. When trying to communicate with them, be patient and give them plenty of time to communicate with you. Be open and honest with the person you are trying to talk to and let them know when you cannot understand what they are saying. Sometimes a patient may prefer a certain communication technique. Ask them if they have a preference and try to accommodate them. Avoid trying to fill in the blanks or guessing what they are trying to tell you. Encourage them to write down what they are trying to say if they can’t get the words out vocally. You can also use body language and gestures such as pointing to help them communicate with you. Remember that with all conversations with the elderly, no matter what they suffer from, you should always allow plenty of time to communicate with them.
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