Interview Summary of an Older Adult on Aging

Students name;
Institutional affiliation;

An interview is a formal meeting in which both the interviewer and the interviewee communicate
through verbal and non-verbal expressions for effectiveness in communication and
understanding. The learner is interested in gaining first-hand information about aging from the
perspective of a "well" older adult. The other interest in this peace of an assignment is the use of
practical communication skills while the learner is interviewing the "well" older adult. This
interview summary of what the learner learned is, therefore written in a narrative format.
I found Mr Rodrigues a 73 year well older adult at 1100 hours at the Devonshire beach at Alberta
where he was relaxed enjoying the breeze alone. Mr Rodrigues is considered old due to the
change in the social role; retired, chronological age, and changes in functional abilities. I
approached the older adult for an interview. According to Adler, Rodman & Du Pré, (2016),
communication that can occur either verbally or non-verbally should lead to interaction and
connectedness between human beings while exchanging information. In as much as I aimed at
gaining important specific information from the older adult, I also focused on advancing the
physical and emotional well-being of the respondent. To make it effective, I respected the older
adult as my respondent; I made this possible by making the introduction as short as possible and
with clarity. I asked him about five questions to gain first-hand information about aging. I had
this in mind that after am dine with the interview, I should leave the older adult the way I found
him or more relaxed than how I saw him. I, therefore, considered making this communication
more therapeutic to support his feeling of well-being (Riley, 2015).
The "well" older adult Mr Rodrigues reported that the person who has been influencing his life
the most is Dr Norman Bethune. He stated that this man lived only 49 years (1890 -1939). Mr
Rodrigues described him as a brave human who was dedicated to both medicine and his political
course as well. He was a gifted surgeon whose main course was travelling the globe to help the

injured communist partisans. Mr Rodrigues did this during the Spanish civil war in the year 1936
to the year 1939 and also during the year 1939 to 1945. The fact that he served his nation bravely
he remained a hero to his country and Mr Rodrigues as well. Mr Rodrigues used the first C of the
7 Cs considered ineffective communication where he delivered a piece of complete information
concerning the person he inspires him most. He talked of his achievements and the impact he has
made to the world and him individually as well. On the other hand, I, as the learner also
considered to listen effectively by paying attention to every detail concerning Mr Rodrigues’
hero. I did not interfere with his narration, and I ended up getting all that Mr Rodrigues had to
pass concerning Dr Norman.
Mr Rodrigues reported that mood changes and memory loss are the things that interfere most
with his daily activities. He said that he has no issue with his five senses, including hearing,
tasting, seeing, touching and smelling. He reported that significant interference is memory loss.
Memory loss keeps on interfering with his daily activities as he may spend a lot of time
neglecting other duties and argue with his wife. The argument could be that he has not eaten only
to find that he has forgotten he ate a couple of hours.
I felt relaxed, confident, and excited throughout the conversations when I asked about the first
question and the second question. Mr Rodrigues, therefore, became free and went ahead
speaking his mind. When I asked him the third question, He felt frustrated. It seemed that I was
bothering him. Moreover, the information I was enquiring had become more personal and
confidential. However, I applied the technique of cognitive theory. The theory focusses on how
people's thinking can change their feelings and behaviour. In as much as He was upset, I did not
give him a chance to alter my feelings too. I maintained my listening skills. He, therefore, ended
up reporting that he spent minimal time with his family as he spent most of the times in work as