Communication with older, seriously ill patients.
This article describes effective communication strategies in caring for older, seriously ill patients and their surrogates/caregivers. Specific skills in three core functions are highlighted: (i) empathic communication (ii) information provision and (iii) enabling decision making. Empathy skills include using 'NURSE' statements and assuring a continuous relationship. Tailored information and empathic communication can be used to facilitate information processing and overcome age-related communication barriers. Eliciting patients' goals of care is critical in decision making. Surrogates need assistance when making decisions for patients and often themselves have support and information needs. Suggestions are made to ensure patients' and caregivers' needs are met.
Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, UK. Electronic address: Liesbeth.van_vliet@kcl.ac.uk.
Liesbeth M
LM
van Vliet
Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 10th Floor, Annenberg Building One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1070, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Lindenberger
Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, Amsterdam 1018 WV, The Netherlands.
Julia C M
JC
van Weert
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003657:Decision Making; D030881:Disclosure; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D010347:Patient Care Planning
Communication; Decision making; Empathy; Geriatrics; Information; Palliative care; Surrogates; Tailoring