Elderly Care and Caring for the Disabled

Effective communication happens when the intended meaning of the sender and the perceived meaning of the receiver are the same. Carers need to have exceptional communication skills, as communicating information with clients, families and stakeholders improves the service delivery. With the above in mind, this unit will present you with the skills necessary to become an effective, efficient communicator, for the benefit of your (potential) clients. Successful verbal communication occurs when an individual uses a combination of words or writing in order to pass on information to a specific recipient. Sign language and braille are considered forms of verbal communication. Braille is the writing system that uses raised dots, designed for touch by the human fingers, to express the letters of the alphabet and hence communicate in written form. Successful non-verbal communication occurs when an individual does not use words and still successfully passes on information to a specific recipient.

There are several categories: facial expressions, head movements, hand and arm gestures, physical space, touching, eye contact, and physical postures. Even a person’s emotions or how they dress can influence the communication process. As much as 90% of communication can be non-verbal.

Carers need to be aware of their own and their client’s non-verbal language as this is a form of communication.

The term ‘Elderly’ is applied to those individuals belonging to age 60 years and above, who represent the fastest growing segment of populations throughout the world. The percentage of elderly in developing countries tends to be small, although numbers are often large. In the year 1990, there were more than 280 million people belonging to the age 60 years or over in developing regions of the world, and 58% of the world’s elderly were living in less-developed regions.