How to communicate with older adults to connect with their generation and for seniors who are hard of hearing, have dementia or have other special needs.
Seniors who require caregiving services often are experiencing an age-related illness or a decline in their physical abilities. Sometimes this means they will have difficulty with self-care and communication. Marketers have given labels to generations of people born between certain years, as a way to stereo -type their behavior based on the norms that were present when they were developing into adults.
G.I. Generation (Traditionalists): born between 1900 and 1924
Silent Generation: born between 1925 and 1942
Baby Boomers: born between 1946 and 1964
Generation X: born between 1965 and 1979
Generation Y or Millennials: born between 1980 and 2000
New Silent Generation or Generation Z: born between 2001 and the Present
As caregivers, you are primarily caring for the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers also beginning to need senior care. By understanding the age of the person you are caring for you can communicate about topics they are familiar with and learn how the events in their life impacted them. Every generation has a “ Defining Moment” that impacts their outlook on life. For instance, today’s oldest old were young children when World War 2 began and will have strong memories of relatives or neighbors who may have died in the war.
The DEFINING MOMENT for each of these generations may be used as a conversation starter with your senior clients.
The G.I Generation
(Also called the “Greatest Generation”) lived through Great Depression and fought in World War II and the Korean War, went to college in record numbers as part of the G.I. Bill and experienced the Cold War. They are known to be patriotic , loyal and fiscally conservative. G.I. stands for “Government Issue” and popular nickname for soldiers was “G.I. Joe”
G.I. Generation Defining Moments
Great Depression
World War II
Faster Communication and Radio Ownership
Singers: Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby
The Silent Generation
The Silent Generation were born as wars were being fought and th economy was weak. This generation was born during and after the Great Depression between 1929 and 1939 and World War II (fought between 1939 and 1945). They were simply happy to be alive and to be able to have jobs as they joined the workforce. They were not activists and felt it was dangerous to speak out as young adults during the McCarthy Era. They were the first generation to be smaller before the one before them. They may have lost a parent in the war or knew first-hand of loved ones their parent’s lost and of the financial difficulties their parent suffered during the Great Depression. Some call them “The Lucky Few” as they became young adults during the prosperous economy of the 1950’s and 1960’s when modern life became more “convenient” with appliances and automobiles and televisions available for everyone.
Silent Generation Defining Moments
Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Born during or after the Great Depression and World War II
Rise of “Housewife” enjoying modern appliances: Dishwashers, washing machines, air Conditioning , household electronics
Builders of high-rises and factories after the war
Witnessed the rise of televisions
The Baby Boomer Generation (the babies born to those who came back from fighting World War II). The Baby Boomers experienced the Vietnam War Wargate, Civil Rights Movement, Kennedy Assassinations, the Moon Landing and the Cold War. Boomers are known to question authority and crusade for causes.
Baby Boomer Generation Defining Moments
Vietnam War
Civil RIghts Movement
Moon Landing with Neil Armstrong Planting The Flag
Assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy
Women began careers equal to men (Equal Rights Amendment)
By understanding the generation of this senior, you may start conversations around the events that occured in their lifetime.
Realize that just as you have certain ways of communicating with your friends, seniors also learned a certain communication style for the era when they were coming of age.
Remember that the older generations did not learn to communicate on smart phones or through text messaging. Caregivers need to effectively communicate in the style a senior prefers while being respectful of hearing and memory loss challenges. Even vocabulary words may have a different meaning between generations.
Effective Communication with the Elderly
Establish a daily routine that includes discussing the day’s schedule
Speak clearly and face the senior when talking
Use proper vocabulary
Be mindful of memory loss and how this may impact communication skills
Be aware of hearing loss signs: television and radio volume is too loud or speaking volume becomes louder
If hearing aids are used, monitor battery changes to be sure they are always working
About Hearing Loss
Hearing occurs when sound goes into the external ear, vibrates the eardrum (tympanic membrane) which is conducted through the bones of the middle ear and is transmitted to the brain by the auditory nerve in the inner ear.
As we age, the auricle, or outer ear becomes dry and more wrinkled. Itching and dryness occurs in the external auditory canal. The hairs in the ear become coarse, long and more noticeable in older men. But these changes do not mean hearing loss will happen.
Ear wax (cerumen) becomes drier because the number and action of glands in the ear decrease. Ear wax may become impacted in the ear canal, causing loss of hearing. This can be reversed by having the doctor clean out the ear.
Over time, the eardrum does become thinner, paler and more rigid. If the senior has a history of perforation of the eardrum or lots of ear infections, this is more likely to happen. The eardrum may not vibrate as effectively, reducing the transmission of sound.
Hearing loss due to problems of the outer ear is called conductive.
Sensorineural loss, or perceptive deafness, occurs because of problems in the middle and inner ear.
Degeneration of the bones, nerve structures of the inner ear and other areas affect the sensitivity to sound and the understanding of speech along with balance.
Stiffening of the bones reduces transmission of vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Slow deterioration of the hair cells and decreased blood flow to the cochlea cause inability to discriminate sounds. This can be furthered decreased if circulation or biochemical changes to the brain affect the auditory nerve or the hearing center.
Presbycusis is the term associated with hearing loss typical of old age and is the gradual, symmetrical loss of hearing of high-pitched frequencies.
Women’s voices are usually in a higher pitch than men’s voices which means that it can be true that a senior may hear certain conversations and not other conversations simply because they are in a higher pitch.
Example: a senior man may be able to hear his son well when talking but not his wife, because her voice is in a higher pitch.
Tips For Communicating With Someone with Hearing Loss
Watch this video on hearing loss from PBS:
Gain Attention: touch their hand or shoulder if necessary
Avoid covering lips and mouth
Speak Naturally: speak at normal rate, not too fast, not too slow
Pause: give them time to process your words
Rephrase rather then repeat
Engage in conversations without background noise (turn off tv, radio, phone)
Converse in areas with good lighting
Communicating with People with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Active listening: when you repeat back what the person has said and then the answer the question or continue the conversation, can help when communicating with someone with memory loss. Maintaining a consistent routine will help the person better know what to expect each day. When speaking to the person, say their name and speak clearly and give them time to answer. Remember that often body language will be part of the communication process as their ability to articulate what they want to say may be challenged. Meet them where they are each day with a wink, a smile, and a pat on the back as you keep their routine on track.
Use the Senior’s Name: Louse, thank you for eating your lunch
Example of Active Listening
Senior says: “My son always arrives 15 minutes late, never on time.”
Caregiver says: “Since your son always arrives about 15 minute, maybe we should plan on waiting for him to arrive before we place the roast in the oven.”
Speech problems may be temporary, for instance, if a senior is recovering from a stroke - use pen and paper to communicate easily.
Communicating with Someone with Dementia Tips:
R E S P E C T
Use non-verbal cues: nod, smile, happy facial expressions etc.
Choices: give them 2 choices rather asking “yes” or “no” questions.
Maximize hearing: face them when you speak
Do not force conversations
Watch Video on Tips for talking to people with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia:
Avoid Frustration and Remain Calm
Seniors may become demanding and express frustration when they cannot communicate effectively. Always remain calm and try to connect with the senior by showing them you understand their frustration and challenges and will be patient with them. Develop a communication system that will work between you and the senior client. There may be good days and bad days when senior is experiencing memory loss and caregivers must learn to not ever take it personally when a senior is frustrated. Maintain a calm and pleasant demeanor and keep an established routine for the senior to follow each day.
💡 Tip Sheet
Understand the generation the senior is from better connect, speak clearly and face the senior, gain the senior’s attention by touching their shoulder, hearing loss of high frequencies often accompanies aging, use active listening to better communicate with seniors with dementia, maintain an established routine