Caregiver Tips

Hearing-impaired seniors:

• Look directly at the person while speaking and make sure you have his or her attention.
• If a senior has a "good" ear, then speak to that side.
• Speak slowly and clearly; do not shout.
• Know that body language and facial expressions are part of communication.
• Try to re-phrase a thought rather than repeating the same words.
• Use a pencil and paper or chalkboard if necessary. Remember - people with hearing disabilities have to concentrate harder and may tire easily.

Visually-impaired seniors

• Always approach from the front.
• Identify yourself immediately and use the resident's name.
• Describe the surrounding environment, especially if you leave the person alone.
• Touching is part of communicating.
• Stimulate the senses of smell, taste and hearing.
• Bright colours, such as reds and yellows with bold contrasts, are easier to distinguish.

Good ideas from the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation website.

SOME GREAT TRUTHS SENIORS HAVE LEARNED

B.C. COALITION to ELIMINATE ABUSE OF SENIORS

In an April 2003 interview with Oprah, 70 year old poet Maya Angelou offered the following gems of wisdom from her experience of growing older:

1.     No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow.

2.     You can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things:  a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

3.     Regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life.

4.     Making a “living” is not the same as making a “life”.

5.     Life sometimes gives you a second chance.

6.     You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands: you need to be able to throw something back.

7.     Whenever I decide to do something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

8.     Even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

9.     Every day you should reach out and touch someone.  People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

10.  People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

11.  I know that I still have a lot to learn.