Sensible seniors get tested at Lighthouse Community Services’ monthly meeting
Some seniors avoid issues that they think are inappropriate to discuss with clinicians.
Seniors were treated to a special lunch, music and companionship at the Lighthouse Community Services’ monthly senior citizens’ meeting at the Port Shepstone Rehab Centre hall in Marburg last Saturday.
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Ashnee Moodley, a nurse from the Port Shepstone Clinic, was in attendance and gave a talk and performed tests on their blood pressure and sugar levels. TB and HIV testing was also conducted.
Chairman Sunil Singh told the Herald, for a nurse, the ability to communicate is a very important skill and a vital part of the job.
“Nurses speak to people of varying educational, cultural and social backgrounds and must do so in an effective, caring and professional manner, especially when communicating with senior citizens and their families,” explained Mr Singh.
Mrs Moodley pointed out that caring for an older patient requires discussing sensitive topics. “Many older people have a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ relationship with healthcare providers about certain problems, such as their TB and HIV status. Hidden health issues, such as memory loss or depression, are a challenge as well.” said Mrs Moodley.
She reiterated that some seniors avoid issues that they think are inappropriate to discuss with clinicians. “However, our nurses try to take a universal, non-threatening approach or tell anecdotes about patients in similar circumstances as a way to ease the patient into the discussion, of course always maintaining patient confidentiality to reassure the patient with whom you are talking, that you won’t disclose personal information about him or her.”
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