Tips for Helping a Senior with Speech Problems Improve Their Speech

Senior Care in Water Mill NY: Tips for Helping a Senior with Speech Problems Improve Their Speech

Difficulty with speech is not an uncommon issue for elderly adults. There are a wide variety of issues that can contribute to speech problems, including trauma, dementia, illness, loosening of the facial muscles, hearing loss, aphasia and other diseases, and other issues. Regardless of what has caused the difficulty that your aging parent is having with their speech, as a family caregiver, it is important that you take the time to encourage your loved one to use and improve their speech so that they can continue to communicate as effectively as possible throughout their later years.

Use these tips to help your elderly loved one with speech problems improve their speech when dealing with speech difficulties:
• Encourage them to slow down, as speaking too quickly can cause speech problems to worsen.
• Have them speak in shorter sentences so that they can get their thoughts out more effectively. Encourage them to take breaths in between each sentence to keep themselves calm and focused.
• Maintain eye contact with them while they speak so that they do not get flustered or upset feeling that you are distracted, and also do not get distracted in what they are trying to say.
• Talk to them consistently and regularly throughout the day. Engage with them as if they are not having difficulty and give them ample time to engage with you.
• Encourage them to talk about things that interest them, such as the television programs that they enjoy watching or the books that they are currently reading. Practicing speaking about something low-pressure will allow them to work on their speech without feeling overwhelmed or nervous.

 
Starting senior care for your aging loved one can be an exceptional way for you to enhance your aging parent’s quality of life and ensure that they get all of the care, support, encouragement, and assistance that they need as they age in place. Whether you are able to be with your aging parent frequently or you live at a distance and are not able to be with them as often as you would like, a senior home care services provider can diversify your parent’s care, offer services such as safe and reliable transportation that encourage independence and engagement in the world around them, and help them to manage their individual needs and challenges in the way that is right for them. The highly personalized set of services offered by this care provider will be tailored to your parent’s specific needs as well as their personality, preferences, and goals to help them to achieve and maintain the lifestyle that they desire and deserve as they age in place. If your aging parent is dealing with challenges such as hearing speech problems, the companionship, support, and assistance of a senior care provider can be valuable to help your parent handle their needs, remain safe and secure, and maintain better mental and emotional health as they cope with these changes.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in Water Mill, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.

Sources:

http://audiology-web.s3.amazonaws.com/migrated/AgeRelated_hearingLoss.pdf_53998b3c133824.63176851.pdf
http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/betterhearingandspeechmonth.html

Adult Speech Difficulties