Communications- Written Report
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1. Communication strategies used in healthcare in relation to dementia (3 marks)
Dementia is a neurological condition that can cause the functioning of an individual's brain to
decline, and it results in reduced memory, language, thinking skills and reasoning capacity
(Henderson and Jorm, 2000). Due to cognitive decline, patients experience difficulties in
communicating, interacting and expressing themselves. As healthcare professionals take care
of people with dementia, they can utilize different strategies to provide quality care that will
enhance patient outcomes. Some of these communication strategies include:
Nonverbal Communication Maximization
There are non-verbal approaches, such as gestures, eye movements, body language, and facial
expressions, which healthcare professionals can apply with the aim of making dementia
patients understand information since their communication becomes difficult.
Use Simple Language
The use of simple sentences that are brief but clear helps healthcare professionals
communicate effectively with patients so as to enhance understanding among them.
Repetition of statements also helps the patient to remember and comprehend this information.
Creating a Good Environment
Also, aiming to create a conducive atmosphere for their patients is another strategy used by
health care workers. They ensure quietness through the reduction of distractions and noises.
They can also use visual aids and different forms of art to improve memory.
2. Communication methods (4 marks)
Through adopting appropriate communication methods, a healthcare worker can achieve
maximum quality care. Some communication methods include:
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Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is the use of words to pass information from one person to the other.
This type of communication may either be spoken or written (Collins et al., 2011). While
communicating using words, it is important to ensure that one is using simple and clear
language. One should also actively listen and openly welcome feedback. Also, the correct use
of tone, pitch, and volume greatly impacts how the message is conveyed and understood.
Pitch is the highness or lowness of one's voice. On the other hand, tone is the mood of your
voice, while volume is the loudness or softness of your voice. When one embraces the
different forms of verbal communication, they are able to clearly and effectively
communicate.
Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication involves passing information without the use of words (Mast,
2007). Some examples of non-verbal communication include:
i. Gestures
Gestures involve the use of hand movements to communicate. Some gestures that can
be used to communicate include pointing, sign language, waving and use of the
thumb.
ii. Touch
Through the use of touch, one can express feelings such as sympathy, care, support,
affection, and empathy.
iii. Eye contact
Eye contact is a great symbol of care and interest in a conversation or activity.
Maintaining eye contact enhances concentration and also signifies confidence.
iv. Facial expressions
Facial expressions refer to the look on one's face. One can communicate various
feelings, such as happiness, anger, displeasure, discomfort and sadness.
v. Body posture
The body posture of an individual can reveal how they are feeling. Body posture can
be used to communicate pain, confidence levels, openness to communication, and
general interest.
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3. How dementia impacts on communication in healthcare (4 marks)
Communication in healthcare is important to ensure that one can easily assess the
client's needs and preferences, and address them for quality care. However, dementia
symptoms can act as barriers to effective communication. According to a research
conducted, 72% of nurses requested supplementary training on caring for patients
with dementia, after facing numerous communication challenges (Lakey, 2009). Some
effects of dementia on communication in healthcare include:
i. Challenges adhering to care plans
Dementia affects the patient’s ability to remember, understand and express
themselves. This can act as a major setback when healthcare professionals guide
the patients to comply with the care plans. Issues such as memory loss can cause
the patients to forget instructions or even appointments set. Dementia can also
cause mood disorders such as aggression and agitation, which may create a barrier
when healthcare providers are communicating with the patients and supporting
them to follow their care plans (Banovic, Zunic and Sinanovic, 2018).
ii. Increased reliance on healthcare assistants
Dementia patients may constantly require caregivers who understand their
condition (Pepper and Dening, 2023). The caregivers need to understand the
various aspects of the individual's needs, preferences, behavioral changes, and
baseline in order to communicate effectively and provide quality care.
iii. Dynamics in strategies of communication
Patients with dementia have difficulty communicating. This is because they may
find it challenging to come up with the right words to express themselves. The
challenges can cause misunderstanding with the multidisciplinary team while
administering treatment and care. Therefore, there is a need to amplify various
communication strategies, such as non-verbal cues, to communicate clearly.
Healthcare providers are learning to perceive and relay signals. Also, while
speaking, healthcare providers must ensure that they practice patience and
simplify their language for ease of communication.
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4. How does dementia affect an individual’s ability to communicate (6 marks)
Dementia can negatively affect an individual's ability to communicate. It gradually
causes issues such as reduced memory, decline in understanding, emotional
instability, and speech impairment.
i. Reduced memory
Dementia can result in memory loss, which can affect an individual while they
are communicating. The patient can relay incomplete or vague statements,
sometimes even constantly repeating themselves, which may be difficult to
follow.
ii. Decline in understanding
The patient may experience challenges comprehending information and
processing language in a conversation. This may be caused by difficulty
following conversations and interpreting information. This can prevent
productive conversations.
iii. Emotional instability
Dementia patients may experience increased mood swings, which can cause
feelings of agitation, anger, and aggression. These feelings may interfere with
effective communication. This is because the individual may be triggered
during the conversation and react inappropriately.
iv. Speech impairment
Dementia patients can face difficulty creating words and forming sentences.
They may experience stuttering and become illegible while engaging others in
conversations, affecting their ability to communicate successfully (Pepper and
Dening, 2023).
Through the adoption of appropriate technology to communication strategies, dementia
patients can be positively impacted. Such strategies include:
i. Memory aids
Integrating digital memory aids such as reminders, alarms, and calendars can
enhance communication for dementia patients. The patients can effectively track
their appointments and daily tasks. They can also adhere to their medications
through reminders and prompts. This will gradually have a positive impact on
how they communicate.
ii. Cognitive exercise
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Through technology, the patient can engage in various activities that stimulate
their cognitive function. Such activities may include online puzzles, brain training
applications, and concentration games. These exercises improve their memory and
thinking skills; hence, they are able to communicate more effectively.
iii. Music Therapy
With technology, dementia patients are able to access music which can be
personalized to the patient’s needs to stimulate memories (Van Manen et al.,
2021). Music can also soothe the patients during agitation, so they can
communicate calmly.
5. Healthcare Assistant’s role in facilitating communication (3 marks)
A healthcare assistant plays a vital role in facilitating communication in various
aspects. The healthcare assistant can improve the patient's ability to communicate
with the multidisciplinary team, fellow residents, family, and friends. Various
conditions affect communication, such as dementia, aphasia, anomia, hearing
impairment and visual impairment. Some roles of the healthcare assistant include:
1. Identifying, assessing and addressing individual communication needs of clients.
A healthcare assistant should assess the client's needs and employ the appropriate
technology to aid in communication. For instance, a client with anomia has
difficulty finding the correct words to express themselves. The healthcare assistant
can enable access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices
(AAC) that provide a pool of words and images that the client can select to assist
in communication. Aphasia affects an individual's ability to speak and understand
a language. For an aphasia client, the healthcare assistant can avail speech
generating devices to help them convey their feelings. The HCA can also provide
digital memory aids to patients with dementia to improve their memory and hence
increase their communication skills.
2. Creating a conducive environment for the patients
A healthcare assistant should ensure that they maintain a conducive environment
for the patients to thrive (Van Manen et al., 2021). The healthcare assistant should
strive to ensure that the patient's environment is customized to ensure that they are
comfortable and also have a good quality of life. For instance, patients with
anomia and aphasia should have visual aids to help them communicate better.
They should also easily access assistive communicative tools such as speech-
generating devices. For patients with dementia, the healthcare assistant should
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ensure that their environment is quiet and calm to avoid any distractions. They
should also maintain consistent routines to prevent confusion and improve their
memory. For patients with visual impairment, the HCA should ensure that they
have access to tactile aids.
3. Maintaining communication coordination between the patient and the
multidisciplinary team
The healthcare assistant should ensure that they understand the patient's baseline
and document any improvements or concerns. They should also convey the
patient's concerns to the multidisciplinary team to ensure that they are effectively
addressed. This strategy sustains a good flow of communication and eventually
improves the patient’s quality of life.
4. Promoting the social well-being of the clients
The healthcare assistant should find out the social preferences of the clients. They
should ensure that they encourage the clients to engage in social activities that
interest them, and avail communication tools that will enable them to interact
comfortably. They should also prioritize activities that will have a meaningful
impact on the lives of the clients. Such activities may include art classes, puzzle
games and music therapy for clients with conditions such as anomia, aphasia, and
dementia.
6. Recommendations to improve communication in the workplace (4 marks)
i. Continuous professional development for the multidisciplinary team
The healthcare team should undergo continuous training on
communication skills and the use of assistive communication tools. This
will allow them to communicate effectively with the clients and address
their needs effectively. It will also enable them to educate the clients on
how to use the different communication tools. Healthcare workers can also
attend workshops that enhance their communication skills and improve
their expertise to manage communication challenges in the workplace.
ii. Creating defined communication frameworks and standard operating
procedures
There should be a well-established framework to enable a good flow of
communication. The framework should encourage open communication
and feedback. It should also have structured standard operating procedures
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that guide the healthcare team on effective communication with the patient
and among colleagues.
7. Impact on patient care when HCA’s have a solid understanding of
communication (2 marks)
i. Improved patient outcomes and quality of life
When healthcare assistants maximize their communication skills, they are able to
effectively address the patient's needs and offer appropriate personalized care
(Argyle, 2012). The healthcare assistants are also able to identify any issues and
provide timely feedback to the multidisciplinary team for prompt response. This
allows the patients to receive quality care and ultimately improves patient
outcomes.
ii. Improved adherence to treatment and care plans
Through good communication, the HCA is able to effectively educate the patient
on their conditions. The patients can understand the essence of their treatment and
care plans. By involving the patient in their treatment and care plans, they feel
valued and respected and be motivated to see the plans successfully going through
(Wollney et al., 2024). They will also have more trust in the healthcare providers
and reduced fears and concerns. This will improve patient satisfaction and
positivity towards the care experience.
BIBILIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
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O’Brien, Lauren., 2024. Module 3 Notes. Chevron College.
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