What sets my teeth on edge...

SmileyMouse · Mar 20, 2002

This really sets my teeth on edge and I think that the reason is that as a society we do not have respect for our elderly.

I have been in nursing for 10 years, many of those in the LTC setting. I have been disgusted and angered by the way that people treat our elderly. They are either treated like objects or children. Who do you think made our country what it is? These people are not useless or mindless. Everyone has purpose on Earth and just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it isn't there! These people provided an invaluable service to us, by being mothers, servicemen etc. and we need to treat them accordingly.

I ALWAYS say sir and ma'am and use Mr. and Mrs. it is all about respect and thank you Matt for saying what so many of us were thinking.

And as a point of reference from someone who worked with Alzheimer's patients for 2 years. A lower tone always works better than a high pitched one. Oh yeah, and did you ever think that maybe sometimes they don't answer you because they DON'T WANT TO? So speaking louder or higher or babytalking more won't make a bit of difference:) Just because they are old doesn't mean that they don't have brains or opinions. Or maybe they don't answer the babytalkers because they are trying desperately not to 'slap the syrup' out of them. (that would be me):kiss Mousy

micro, RN · Mar 20, 2002

smiley mouse..............you sound pretty wise mouse to me.........

yes, I have been told by some elderly people i know that they don't have much control over things anymore but sometimes a lil' HOH is a good excuse to tune people out...........

again i restate in my usual voice.........low tone slightly slower to ensure understanding and eye contact...................

with all my patients...........and if hearing loss is a ???, then low and slow tones are heard best..........

understanding differences in communication styles, language/colloquillism(chk splg), personality types is also important in all of our communication with others..........especially when it is as vital as in our job.............

patient teaching is essential........and dang that even with another nurse(if they are a patient.......am i going to start out with indepth physiology initially)..............oops.....that sounds like another thread subject.......whatcha think y'all!

live4today, RN · Mar 20, 2002

There is a story I once heard about an elderly couple, and it goes something like this:

HUSBAND says in a normal voice to wife as she washes dishes: "Honey, have you seen my glasses?"

[Husband doesn't hear wife saying anything]

HUSBAND says to wife again, only in a little raised tone of voice, "Honey, have you seen my glasses?"

[Again, husband hears nothing]

HUSBAND walks up close to his wife and says to her, "Honey, did you hear me talking to you? Why are you ignoring me?"

WIFE says, "Honey, I wasn't ignoring you. I answered you both times. Are you having trouble with your hearing?"

They both burst out laughing! :chuckle

HUSBAND says, "I was starting to think the same thing about you, dear. I was just about to suggest to you to call the doctor to have your hearing checked."

WIFE: "There's nothing wrong with my hearing. You are the one who couldn't hear me telling you that your eyeglasses were on the bedroom dresser. Not once, but TWICE!"

Moral of the story? Perhaps it is not the patient who can't hear, but the nurse??? :chuckle :roll :kiss

Dplear · Mar 20, 2002

One of my pet peeves..."how are WE today?" I was ion the hospital recently after having my severed achillies tendon sewn back together...OUCH!!!!! The nurse can=me in and asked me How arre WE doing today....I basically told her politely to get out of my room with the WE crap...I was the one in bed and I was the one hurting and not HER therefore it is how are YOU doing today...gotta love that morphine........

Dave

willie2001 · Mar 20, 2002

On admission, we ask the patient how they want to be addressed and then write it on the communication board in the patient's room. Most people, young and old prefer to be addressed by their first names or a nickname. I can think of one or two elderly ladies who prefer to be addressed as Mrs.

MQ Edna · Mar 21, 2002

"I always try to pitch my voice lower than normal when I'm speaking with an elder"

My dad had "boilermaker's deafness" as a result of working in a noisy environment for many years. I found that he, too, could hear me better if I pitched my voice lower than normal and projected! It continued to work even after he was fitted with aids.

Goofball · May 2, 2002

Well, maybe I've been talking to those elderly ladies in that high whiney baby talk, hmmm will

have to pay more attention to that. And here I've been trashing a couple of our docs who, when they enter the elderly patients' rooms, start talking in a booming voice that makes them jump in their beds like they just got defibrillated!

Especially the patients on the vents, it's like the docs think those pts suddenly became deaf and have to be yelled at.

Sushi? Nasty stuff, had to politely dump it out into a napkin once while pretending to wipe my mouth.

Matt you look like my primary care dr., John Doolittle (that really is his name), who somewhat resembles Brendon Fraser (all of you cuties, but young enough to be sons of this old dog!)

Love the threads you think up!

bellehill, RN · May 2, 2002

P_RN,

I too am guilty of the "honey/sweetie" thing but it is generally accepted in the south. Many of my older patients call me the same thing. I would never use a first name alone. Maybe it is a southern thing!

shay · May 2, 2002

Dear Sushi whore....

:)

Had to be said. Okay. First, Matt, I'll go with the Matthew Modine resemblance. Can't do the Cameron Frye thing. Maybe a little. Second, yeah, I hate it when people do that too. No need for it. Just because you've got a few extra wrinkles and gray hair doesn't mean you're suddenly an idiot. I always try to remember that every elderly person was once a 25 year old and may still be that way in their mind's eye.....