Working effectively with older patients: 25 do's and don'ts for medical practice employees

Many if not most medical practice employees will be working with an increasingly larger number of older adults in the years to come. Yet medical practice employees who are younger may have trouble relating to their older patients and may unwittingly be making their communication with older patients more difficult. This article suggests 25 practical strategies for medical practice employees who work with older patients. It describes appropriate language for medical practice personnel to use and specific language to avoid when speaking of and to older patients. It teaches them to recognize signs of ageism both in themselves and in their older patients. It offers practical suggestions for accommodating the physical and cognitive needs of older adults. This article also suggests ways that medical practice employees can establish trust-based relationships with their older patients. It describes how they can navigate the challenges that can arise when family members and other caregivers become part of the medical equation. And it offers practical advice about scheduling, escorting, seating, communicating with, and remaining open-minded to the particular needs of older patients. Finally, this article explores behavioral challenges that can emerge when working with older adults, strategies for coping with family interference, and signs of elder abuse.