Communicating with the Elderly for Nursing Assistants

Course overview

Communicating with others is a basic human need and the foundation of all social interactions. Effective communication with patients helps them feel less isolated and can also improve their sense of wellbeing when under care. Often, the effects of aging, illness, and disabilities can become barriers to effective caregiver-patient communication, and healthcare settings often have additional barriers present. When nursing professionals understand how the communication process works and how to effectively send and receive a message, they are better able to meet the needs of patients under their care. This course will discuss the components of the communication process, barriers to communicating with an older population, and tips for increasing communication effectiveness.