During a recent visit with my grandmother, I realized the importance of adapting your communication to older adults. Like many older Americans, my grandmother is challenged by chronic health problems. She takes medication for physical and mental ailments. Her chronic conditions and medication can complicate communication and understanding. As her dementia progresses, communication becomes more and more challenging. In her short-lived periods of lucidity, her hearing loss alone complicates interaction. During her periods of obscurity, it can be a frustrating and helpless experience.

Effective social workers must be able to communicate with older adults who are challenged with similar health problems. These health problems can complicate communication and understanding. Here are 8 techniques you can use to help facilitate interaction with older adults to create a communication-friendly environment.

1. Be aware of the person's health problems. Older adults may have health problems that add difficulty to speaking and understanding. For example, they may have hearing problems, speech problems, and memory loss. These factors complicate communication. Be sure you consider the person's health before you engage in communication. And remember, chronological age is not always a true indicator of a person's health.
2. Be attentive to the environment you are communicating in. Hearing and speech problems can create a barrier. Be sure to evaluate the environment you are communicating in. Is there any disturbing background noise? Are there many people speaking in the same room? Is there any intrusive music? Are there any distractions that can affect your communication? Ask the older adult if the environment is comfortable to them. If you sense any disturbance, try to go to a more peaceful and quiet place.
3. Speak clearly, articulate, and make eye contact. Older adults may have trouble hearing. It is important to articulate and speak clearly. Direct your speech at the individual and not to the side of the person. Do not eat your words. Move your mouth and pronounce each word carefully and precisely. If your tongue "dances" inside your mouth when you talk, you articulate. If your tongue "sleeps" and plays a passive role, you do not articulate.
4. Adjust your volume appropriately. There is a difference between enunciating and talking loudly. Learn to adapt your voice to the needs of the individual. Evaluate the environment you are in and the person's hearing. Sometimes, it is sufficient to interact in a quiet place. Never shout at an older adult. Treat the individual with respect by articulating and speaking at a comfortable volume that is suitable for both of you.
5. Use clear, precise questions and sentences and repeat and rephrase. Complicated questions and sentences may confuse older adults who have memory and hearing loss. Clear and precise constructions are easier to comprehend. Use direct questions: "Did you have soup for lunch?" "Did you have salad for lunch?" It may be more difficult to answer: "What did you have for lunch?" The more precise you are in your language, the less difficulty the elderly have to understand.In addition, reduce the "noise" in your sentences and questions. Limit your sentences and questions to 20 words or less. Deconstruct complex ideas. For example, it may be better to say, "Is there any pain in your back (pointing to the person's back or your back)? Is there any pain in your stomach (pointing to the person's stomach or your stomach)?" A more complicated construction would be: "Do you have any pain or discomfort?" Do not hesitate to repeat and rephrase your sentences and questions if you sense there is an absence of comprehension.
6. Avoid confusion of mixed ideas and questions. Try to define your ideas and questions logically. If you mix ideas, it may be confusing for the older adult to understand. Express one idea and message at a time. For example, "It is a good idea to call John. He is your brother. After, we can call Susan. She is your sister." A more complicated construction would be: "I think we should call your brother, John, first, and then after we could call your sister, Susan."
7. Use visual aids, if possible. If an older adult has a hearing or memory problem, it is important to be creative. Visual aids help. Show the individual what or who you are talking about.
8. Be patient and smile: Slow down the communication process! A sincere smile shows that you are patient and understanding. It also creates a friendly environment to communicate in.

Older adults often have more difficulty interacting because of health problems. Remember to pause between sentences and questions. Give the individual an opportunity to understand and "digest" information and questions. If a person has memory loss, it is a valuable technique. When you pause, you show respect and patience.