Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: communication tips

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Conversation Starters: Care is Needed

Although it may seem difficult at first to set the wheels in motion, addressing that care is needed with aging loved ones can reduce worry and possibly prevent a serious emergency. Need suggestions to start a smooth discussion? Try these conversation openers:

· Share your concerns. Talk to your loved ones openly and honestly. Knowing that you're concerned about their health may give them the motivation they need to see a doctor or make other changes.

· Create a sense of planning. Approach a loved one with a sense of planning to find a solution rather than trying to enforce your predetermined decisions. Discuss what you have observed using concrete examples and ask your loved one what he or she thinks is going on. Then ask what he or she thinks would be a good solution.

· Address safety issues. Point out any potential safety issues around the home — then make a plan to address the problems.

· Encourage a regular medical checkup. Offer to schedule the visit yourself or to accompany the senior to the doctor — or to find someone else to attend the visit.

· Contact the doctor for guidance. If a loved one dismisses your concerns, you can try calling the doctor directly. You will need to sign a form verifying that you have your loved one’s permission to discuss his or her medical information with the doctor and his or her staff. Your insights may help the doctor understand what to look for during upcoming visits.

· Use a sense of caring. Remind the senior that you want to do what's best to promote his or her health and wellbeing, both today and in the months and years to come.

After the initial conversation, don’t expect that a decision will be reached instantly. It is important to give your loved one some time to absorb the information you share. It is equally as important to really listen to your loved one’s wishes and concerns. And, sometimes, even though you have the best intentions and only the safety of your loved one in mind, suggestions and help are not wanted. Be patient and unless the person is in danger of harming himself or herself, you cannot take any action that is unwanted.

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to help you determine the best plan of long-term care that will meet your loved one’s needs and maintain your loved one’s quality of life. If you're looking for a partner in care coordination in the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, call us today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make your life a little easier.

Tags:   communication tips, private duty agencies

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Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Ten tips for talking to loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease

People with dementia have more difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, as well as more trouble understanding others. And family and friends of Alzheimer’s patients are often unsure how to communicate clearly with their loved ones. Should you correct repetitive speech or stories? Are there other ways to communicate when words are out of reach?

Here are tips to help with communication and understanding:

• Talk slowly and clearly

• Tell the person who you are, even if you are the spouse or child

• Ask one question at a time

• Be careful not to interrupt

• Use short, simple words and sentences

• Avoid quizzing or asking “Do you remember when...?”

• Avoid criticizing, correcting and arguing

When words are not the way to communicate, remember:

• Sometimes the emotions being expressed are more important than what is being said

• If the person uses the wrong word or cannot find a word, try guessing the right one

• If you don’t understand what is being said, ask the person to point or gesture

For further tips on communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease, click here.

At Live Free Home Health Care of New Hampshire, our talented in-home caregivers have years of experience dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and are happy to help you and your loved ones learn how to more easily communicate. Contact us today at 603-217-0149 to find out more about our in-home care offerings and learn if home care is a good fit for your situation.

Tags:   Alzheimer's Disease, caregiver tips, communication tips, dementia

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Make Yourself Heard: Communication Strategies for Someone with Decreased Hearing

While we know how difficult it can sometimes be to communicate with someone who is experiencing hearing loss, we tend to forget that it is equally difficult for the person with hearing loss to communicate with those who hear normally. Those of us who do not have hearing problems tend to speak faster, mumble or speak less clearly than we could, and aren't bothered by background noises. For someone with low hearing, those situations can be quite annoying and can cause him or her to be left out of the conversation entirely.

If you or a relative are experiencing hearing loss, here are a few strategies to help you communicate:

• If you have a hearing aid, make sure it is working properly.

• Tell the people you are with that you have hearing loss; that way they know to adapt their speech, look at you when they are speaking, or make other accommodations to help keep you in the conversation.

• Sit or stand where you can see the faces of all speakers.

• Move away from noise or other background disturbances.

• Ask people to repeat themselves when necessary or repeat back the part of the message that you understood with a request for the speaker to repeat the part that you didn't hear. (For example, “You went where?” “Who called you yesterday?”)

• Use what you know about the speaker to help clue you in on what is going on in the conversation, including the speaker's interests or habits.

• Stay informed about current events.

• Make sure you are well-rested before attending an event where you will be listening to a lot of speech.

For more information on communication strategies for the hearing impaired, click here.

Often, people see their hearing loss as an embarrassment and fail to speak up to ensure that they are included in conversations. Don't be left out. Contact Live Free Home Health Care of the Lakes Region and Central New Hampshire at 603-217-0149 for more tips on living with hearing loss.

Tags:   communication tips, Hearing Loss

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Thursday, October 06, 2011

Can You Hear Me Now? Communicating with Someone with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common part of aging, and will likely affect your elderly friends and family members at some point. Communicating with someone who is experiencing hearing loss can be delicate, as you never want to offend the person. Here are a few tips to help you communicate better with seniors who are experiencing hearing loss:

• Make sure you have the attention of the person before speaking, and always face him or her.

• Speak up, clearly and naturally.

• Do not shout, overemphasize your words or talk in slow motion.

• Turn off televisions or radios to cut down on background noise.

• If you are giving important information, like directions or instructions, write it down.

• Choose quiet, well-lit restaurants when going out for dinner.

If someone with decreased hearing does not understand you when you are speaking, follow these helpful tips:

• Slow down and repeat yourself.

• Speak slightly louder, but resist the urge to shout.

• Rephrase what you just said using common words.

• Present your sentences in short units that are easier to understand.

• Request feedback; for example, “Tell me what you understood.”

For further tips on communicating with someone with hearing loss, click here.

At Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire, our talented in-home caregivers have years of experience dealing with hearing loss and are happy to help you and your loved ones learn how to more easily communicate. Contact us today at 603-217-0149 to find out more about our in-home care offerings and learn if home care is a good fit for your situation.

Tags:   communication tips, Hearing Loss

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Friday, August 26, 2011

How to Develop an Open Line of Communication with Your Physician

Communication is a key to any successful relationship. When it comes to doctor/patient relationships, communication is also key to receiving the best healthcare possible. However, it is not always easy for patients to talk to their physicians, especially for older Americans – though the older people get, the more important it is for them to nurture an open, honest, communicative partnership with their healthcare provider.

Knowing that your time with the doctor is limited, there are some basic ways to help maximize this time. Preparing beforehand and then asking questions during the appointment are vital to achieve the best level of healthcare possible.

Before the Appointment

• Jot down everything you'd like to ask your physician.

• Note any changes in appetite, mood and/or body.

• For each, note the date that the entry is made, what it is about, and the changes noticed.

• Also write down changes in health since the last doctor’s visit.

• Bring a list of all your prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal remedies or supplements, as well as dosage information and side effects, if any.

Medical Testing 101

If medical tests are ordered during a visit to the doctor, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends finding out the following information:

• Name of test

• Reason for test

• What the test involves

• What the test will attempt to reveal

• Cost/health insurance coverage

• Dangers/side effects

• When the results will be ready

Diagnose the Diagnosis

To assist in understanding information while visiting the doctor, ask the following questions about a diagnosis:

• What is the name of my condition? How is it spelled?

• Why do you think I have this condition? What may have caused it?

• How long may this problem last? Will it be forever?

• What is the prescribed treatment?

• Is there a specialist who I need to see for further information or a second opinion?

Home care agencies, such as Live Free Home Health Care, can also be important advocates for a senior’s health and wellbeing. Among numerous skills and services, we can assist with scheduling and transportation to and from a doctor’s appointment, and in making certain that medications are taken as prescribed. Providing in-home care services in Concord, New Hampshire and the rest of the Lakes region and Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today to learn more about how we can assist.

Tags:   communication, communication tips, home care, home companion, home health care, in-home care providers, medication management, private duty agencies

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