Enhancing Elderly Care through Effective Communication Strategies

The provided text explores the significant impact of effective communication on elderly care. It highlights the importance of interaction between caregivers and residents, emphasizing improved outcomes through enhanced communication skills and family involvement. The article suggests strategies like tailored communication practices, involving families in daily operations, and addressing cultural transitions in residential settings. Additionally, it emphasizes personalized care approaches that consider individual needs such as nutrition and mobility aids to promote healthy aging. Overall, the text underscores that effective communication is pivotal for delivering high-quality elderly care, ensuring seniors feel supported and can age with dignity.

UNIVERSITY NAME
Student’s name
Student’s ID
Nursing care of older person

Introduction
Person centered assessment in refers to examining nursing care of the aged persons based on
their individual needs and not general theoretical assumptions found in books or any other source
of secondary data. I plan to demonstrate this approach by basing my essay on the outcome of the
interview I carried out as summarized in appendix 1 of this paper. This approach is important to
the aged care because it offers individualized attention that is likely to bear desired results for the
aged persons.
From the perspective of my interviewee a number of positive key aspects or issues can be
deduced from the discussion. The fact the old man receives assistance from his family and care-
takers points to individualized attention the interviewee gets. This aspect of taking family
members being close to the aged person is important because it can not be replaced with any
other form of friendship or assistance. It gives the aged the feeling of being loved and helps with
the mental strength and general wellbeing. Another positive aspect that can be pointed out is fact
that the old man has his goals sets and he is determined to achieve them. This indicated that it is
important to listen to the aged persons and find out what his or her goals are and what can be
done to make them achieve these goals. My respondent pointed out that he may assistance so that
he may achieve that kind of independence level that he desires like being able to move around
his compound a carry out simple task such as picking liters such as tree leafs falling down within
his compound.
There are some negative key issues that can be pointed out from the discussion. The issue of
correct form of nutrition that my interviewee needed in order to achieve his goals as captured in
the appendix 1 of this essay. This issue shows that it is important that the aged get food rations
that they need based on the advice from the nutritionist. The rations and the kind of diet
contained in the served food should vary from person to person depending on the state o health
and the desired goals of these individuals. Another negative issue is need for the family members
and the care-takers to find a way of understanding what the older person are saying because the
aged may not be able to provide detailed information on what they need all the time. Thus in the
perspective of my interviewee effective communication is very important to the aged care.
According to the document authored by Purdue University effective communication with the
elderly person is important because it makes the work of providing the assistance and care to the

elderly easier. Without proper communication the family members or paid care-takers are likely
to misunderstand the needs of the elderly leading to increased stress level on the pert of the
elderly person. The article further postulates that for effective communication to be achieved
between the elderly persons and those who take care of them a comfortable environment must be
created to enable them speak freely. They should also feel welcomed whether at home or in
hospital where they go to seek medical assistance. (Purdue University, 2017)
Effective communication has an essential role in maintaining the independence, sense of self,
and physical and mental wellbeing of the aged persons. The has to be effective communication
In order for the aged to be able to express themselves on their needs and not depend on directions
provided by other people who may not be aware of the real issues that concern them. (National
Ageing Research Institute, 2012)
Effective communication with elder person is a skill that needs practice. It takes a lot of patience
and may sometimes need an interpreter who may have prior experience communicating with the
same aged person such as a family member. The person taking care of the aged person should
give them time to explain themselves because any form impatience may shut them down.
(Ausmed, 2017)
Family is an integral part of the aged care. Family members have unique relationship with the
aged that is likely to help them feel more relaxed and at peace. This ensures that the aged does
not feel stressed a factor that is likely to affect the mental and physical wellbeing of the elderly
(Heritage Care, 2018).
Family plays an integral role in providing the most appropriate aged care approach for the
elderly person. The family is best placed to provide relevant information to the care givers or
medical practitioners about their loved one so that the best medication or care can be
recommended and provided (Gurung and Ghimire, 2014)
In an aged care home set up it is important that family members are provided with roles to play
in taking care of the aged. The roles such as involving family members in providing the physical
care to the elderly helps in ensuring that the aged does not feel neglected by the family member.
(Comfort Keepers, 2010)

Discussion
Based on the discussion held with my interviewee and the literature on the topic reviewed to best
way to implement aged care program is by providing an effective channel of communication
between the elderly person the family and/or the paid care-givers. All forms of communication
must be included the sign language given the hearing problems that my respondent alluded to.
An automatic wheelchair fitted with a motor can also be provided to the elderly person to aid
him in movement especially around his compound while carrying out some cleanliness such
collecting litter in the compound. This type of wheelchair will give the older more of the
independence that he desires. It will also help in making the elderly man more active such his
joins won’t pain him much as a result of sitting in one place for long time without doing any
physical exercise. Apart form the family members and the paid care takers a nutritionist should
be contracted to look at the issue of diet that will work for the elderly man with the view of
having his body more energetic such he can be able to walk around by himself with less
assistance from a second party. With these support structures with the multidisciplinary team the
elderly person is likely to experience healthy aging. It is therefore highly recommended that
evidence based care should be provided to the aging persons because the kind of approach that
will be taken for a given person is specific and has higher chances of having the elderly person
age in a healthy way.
Setting up of the residential aged care should be done such that the environment is conducive
away from too much noise and other forms of disturbances that precipitate stress to the elder
persons. In this set up family members must also be included in the day to day running of the
facility so the elderly do not feel abandoned. One challenge for this set up is the cultural change
that the elderly experience once they are admitted in the facility. To mange this challenge the
residential care home should modeled to mimic the typical homes found within its locality as
much as possible. This will help in narrowing down the small difference that may arise and ways
to mitigate them such that their effects are minimized to the lowest levels possible.
In conclusion, it is important that individualized care is provided when it comes to aged care
because this is the best approach that stands a better chance in ensuring that the elderly persons’
age in a healthy way.

Appendix 1 – Summary of conversation between I and Mr. Y.
My interviewee says that he is 80 years of age married with children and grandchildren. He likes
watching wildlife movies and visiting animal parks such as Maasai Mara National park in Kenya
that has beautiful sceneries such as wildebeest migration. He has noticed that he frequently feels
some paints in his joints especially when he walks after sitting down for long time. (About 1-2
hours). He also has failing eye sight and his hearing has also declined.
The best things growing older for him are the care he receives from his family and the fact that
his business now being managed by professionals who have improved profits ten fold.
The hardest things growing old for him are having effective communication between his care-
takers and his family and that he needs assistance to be able to move from one point to another.
He’d like to gain enough strength now and in future to at least be able to support himself in
doing simple chores such as picking litters around his compound as well as walking around to
stretch his body. He foresees support from nutritionist to guide him properly on his food rations
that will work for him in order to gain strength. He may also need specially designed wheelchair
to help meet his goals.
Finally, he concludes by saying he his happy with his wellbeing but would like to improve and
become more independent.

References
Ausmed (2017). Communicating With Older Patients. [online] 1(1), pp.1-3. Available
at: https://www.ausmed.com/articles/communicating-with-older-patients/ [Accessed 6
Jan. 2018].
Comfort Keepers (2010). Aged Care is a Family Issue. [online] 1(1), p.1. Available at:
http://www.comfortkeepers.com.au/family-education-centre/aged-care-is-a-family
issue/ [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Gurung, S. and Ghimire, S. (2014). ROLE OF FAMILY IN ELDERLY CARE.
[online] 1(1), pp.4-17. Available at:
https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/75830/Thesis%20print%20final.pdf?
sequence=1 [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Heritage Care (2018). Managing The Effects Of Aged Care On Families. [online]
1(1), p.1. Available at: http://www.heritagecare.com.au/managing-the-effects-of-aged
care-on-families/ [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
National Ageing Research Institute (2012). Staff-resident communication practices in
residential aged care: Strategies for enhancement. Nari, 1(1), pp.3-11.
Purdue University (2017). Importance Of Communication When Caring For The
Elderly. Nursing Online, [online] 1(1), p.1. Available at:
https://nursingonline.pnw.edu/articles/communication-when-caring-for-the
elderly.aspx [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].