Older people

Older People with Communication Problems

As we age, we become more liable to a number of conditions that can affect our communication.  The same techniques that work with people who have had communication impairments all their lives can sometimes help older people who develop expressive  communication problems.  They're not complicated, not expensive, and always worth exploring.   (And if an electronic communication aid is considered necessary, it can be obtained through the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program.)

DEAL therapists have written a book called Getting the Words Out covering communication techniques which may be helpful for older people.  It was specifically designed for nursing home residents, but the interactive strategies described in it are applicable to anyone with similar problems, regardless of where they live.