Question

You are working in a nursing home as a formal caregiver. The client you are assigned to is William Kerr, who has hearing loss, reduced level of attention and repeated reports of falls. One of the prescriptions of Dr Stewart who is a neurologist in the nursing home is Falls Prevention Program. You were asked to inform Henry that he needs to attend the physiotherapy ward three days per week to participate in their Falls Prevention Program. You go to Henry's room and explain that he needs to participate in the program due to the falls incidents that he experienced recently. Henry nods his head confirming that he understood what you meant. However, you know that Henry has hearing loss and reduced level of attention. Therefore, you need to use other strategies to ensure Henry has completely understood you. How can you confirm a person has understood you?

Answer 1

To confirm that a client with hearing loss and reduced attention has understood the instructions, it's best to provide written instructions, use visual aids, summarize key points, ask for the information to be repeated back, and if possible, involve a family member or friend.

Step-by-step explanation:

To confirm that Henry has understood the instructions for attending the Falls Prevention Program, you can employ multiple strategies. One approach would be to provide written instructions with the schedule and details of the program. Additionally, you could use visual aids, such as a calendar with marked dates, to ensure he is aware of when to attend the program. Considering his reduced level of attention, offering a short and simple summary of the conversation would be helpful. You could also ask Henry to repeat back the main points of the conversation to assess his understanding. If possible, enlisting the help of a family member or friend who knows him well could further ensure that the instructions are understood and followed.