What are some tips/tricks to educating my geriatric patients? How can I help them?

Use photos and visual aids.
Don’t use too much medical jargon. Let them help you teach them.

Always exercise patience and listen to your Geriatric patients. Attending to minor details and simple requests go a long way. I recall one of my patients needed to have Muscle Rub on her feet (not a typical spot for muscle rub) but it made her feel better. At times I was very busy when she would come to the Nurses’ Station to ask me to put the ointment on. She passed away not long ago after an unexpected CVA incident and in retrospect, those seemingly simple not so convenient muscle rub treatments, now seem a big deal. In short , attend to their every need, no matter how small.

Find out their level of education so that you can put it in a way they could understand. Find out if they have children/grandchildren that gives them joy and make them want to stay in good health to be around them longer.

Be patient and not only hear what they are saying but listen to what they are saying. Our culture doesn't revere our elderly like they should. Ask them for there opinion. Ie have you tried heat for your sore shoulder did it work. Remember these people have a lifetime of knowledge have held jobs had homes children paid mortgages just like younger counter parts. Find out what their interests are. Keep them from being bored boredom is a killer spirit and physically. Good luck in your career Gail r.n. 56 yrs still working.

Hi, ask each person how they learn best. Some like visual. Some like audio. Basically, know your audience. Choose one topic and stay with it until they verbalize or perform a good return demonstration. Be very patient. Stop and ask them if they have questions. Don’t use slang. Don’t use big medical terms. Determine their level of understanding of the English language. If they’re ESL, certain English terms or phrases might get lost in translation. Allow for plenty of time to teach. Don’t rush.

Taking time to find out what they did for a living and then explaining the educational material geared in that direction help with scaffolding understanding and longer term retention of the info. Examples include heart disease or HTN related to a plumber working with pipes. Or a conveyer belt when discussing diabetes.