You should understand the most elderly
people have endured many changes in their lifestyle. They have withstood:
the loss of their job through retirement, reduced income, loss of friends
and/or family, and increased physical ailments. Many may worry about
lack of money, being alone, being physically incapacitated, and dying.
Obviously, they can use a good deal of cheerfulness and reassurance.
UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR SELF RESPECT AND INDEPENDENCE,
AND TREAT THEM ACCORDINGLY. Never treat an elderly person like a
child; they may resent it, or try to fulfill your expectations of child-like
behavior and helplessness. Treat them with respect and dignity.
Share your sense of humor with them;
laughter is a wonderful tonic. Be inquisitive. They may not
remember what they did yesterday (perhaps their lives have become monotonous
or so routine) but, they often vividly recall what their life was like
years ago. Listen to what they have to say with interest, and without
interrupting them. These wise, wonderful People are living histories.
Let them share that history with you; perhaps you will learn something
new.
The following list gives some tips
for dealing with blind, hard of hearing, or disoriented persons:
1. Always make your presence known
to blind person; identify yourself when entering a room.
2. Be natural. Talk to him/her
as you would a seeing person, and do not shout, as though he/she were deaf.
3. In a group, always address a
blind person by name if you are speaking directly to him, or if you are
expecting a reply. Otherwise, he may not know that you are speaking
to him.
4. When guiding a blind person,
always offer your arm to him. Never grab his arm or push him ahead.
(These tips are suggested by the Lighthouse for the Blind)
5. When talking to those who are
hard of hearing, always look them directly in the face. Reading your
lips will help them understand you. Therefore, keep you hands away
from your mouth while you are talking.
6. If you need to speak louder,
do so without shouting.
7. If a person has trouble understanding
you, find a different way of telling them the same thing.
8. When talking to someone who is
disoriented, speak clearly and distinctly; don't shout.
9. Give a disoriented person more
time to respond to you, and display an expectant manner while waiting for
a response.
10. When dealing with a disoriented
person, refer to calendars, clocks, sunlight, room numbers, etc., as reality
indicators.
HOW TO HELP PEOPLE
FIRST: Learn to Listen
Listen as keenly and promptly to
the unspoken needs and longings of a person as you do to their loud, compelling
expression: respond softly.
SECOND: Learn to Communicate
Clarify both what you say and what
others say. Do not assume you know what a person is thinking or feeling.
THIRD: Learn to Share
When you become as concerned about
giving as you are about receiving, you become attractive to people.
FOURTH: Learn to Love
People always like to be with those
who care about them.
FIFTH: Learn to Lift
You can strengthen a person by
reinforcing his strong points rather than noticing his weak ones.
SIXTH: Learn to Believe
Everything worthwhile you have
become is a result of someone's belief in you; someone listening to you.
