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Slow Down and Pause: Keys to Effective Communication with Older Adults

Mary Johnson, MBA, BSN, CMSRN

 


Has an older person ever snapped at you, saying, “I’m old, not stupid,” or “Just give me a minute,” or seemed to shut down and stop talking? These are signs that the older person is struggling to keep up with what you're saying. This hurts communication for both of you.

Today’s fast-paced world overwhelms the aging brain. Sometimes, even middle-aged people struggle to keep up! Consider TV commercials. In 1975, each commercial ran for about 2 minutes, and you might see four during a break. Now, commercials last just 15 to 30 seconds, but you’re bombarded with seven to fourteen in under four minutes.


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Improving Communication with Older Adults


Life moves quickly. This rapid pace impacts many daily activities; watching TV, talking on the phone, or following instructions from a healthcare provider. Older adults, especially those with limited social interaction, hearing loss, or vision impairment, face even greater challenges.

When someone engages less socially, their brain must work harder to process unfamiliar interactions. Slowing down becomes essential during these moments.

Over time, older adults may experience declines in active listening skills. Living alone, giving up driving, or residing in care facilities reduces their daily opportunities to practice communication. Adding a hearing or vision impairment further complicates this situation. Communication challenges multiply significantly.

Use these strategies when communicating with elderly individuals:

  1. Slow Down: Recognize that the person is elderly. Pace your conversation accordingly.

  2. Give Clear Instructions: Avoid combining multiple instructions at once. Stay mindful of their processing speed. Consider having handouts available to reinforce the instructions.

  3. Provide Clear Choices: Pause between options when asking either-or or comparison questions. This allows time for processing the information.

  4. Use Concrete Language: Avoid slang. Words used casually today may confuse older adults. Example “thongs” used

    to mean flip flops for your feet. Now it is a term for underwear.

  5. Confirm Understanding: Ask older individuals to summarize the information to ensure clarity.

  6. Encourage Questions: Explicitly invite questions and then patiently answer them.

Remember, when older individuals interrupt, they're usually not being rude—they simply fear forgetting an important question. Encourage them to bring a loved one along to appointments. A trusted companion can boost confidence, support independence, and help clarify important information.

Ignoring these strategies can frustrate older adults and turn simple interactions into negative experiences. Older people deserve respect and patience. Feeling disregarded can harm their mental health, cause stress, and slow comprehension.

Negative interactions can cause older adults to delay important medical or dental care, misunderstand instructions, or give incorrect information. Miscommunication can also hurt feelings, damage trust, or create resentment—especially if well-meaning slang leads to misunderstandings.

Take a moment to assess the older adult and incorporate the strategies listed above to make your interactions productive and enjoyable. Adapting your pace requires practice and may not always feel perfect, but it will significantly enhance your communication and interaction with the older adult.

Older adults benefit by feeling heard and valued. These positive interactions boost their mental health, well-being, and confidence, encouraging them to participate more actively in social situations.

 

References

 

Commercial breaks in the 60s/70s | radiodiscussions. (n.d.). https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/commercial-breaks-in-the-60s-70s.774845/

 

Mamo, S. K., Reed, N. S., McNabney, M. K., Rund, J., Oh, E. S., & Lin, F. R. (2019). Age-Related Hearing Loss and the Listening Environment: Communication Challenges in a Group Care Setting for Older Adults. The annals of long-term care : the official journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(11), e8–e13.

 

 

 

(n.d.). A Guide for Older Adults. Talking With Your Doctor. Nih.gov. https://order.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/talking-with-your-doctor.pdf


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​​The information provided by the MedReport Foundation is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The MedReport Foundation's resources are solely for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. Always seek professional care from a licensed provider for any emergency or medical condition. 
 

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