Thinking and Learning Abilities :
The thinking and learning abilities of the older adults affect how we communicate, instruct and teach them and their family members. Older adults need special care during communication and instruction for doing exercise, etc. They often have a physical and mental problem that can interfere with learning and thinking.
Older adults may have:
A short attention span: Old adults may not be able to understand long and detailed information. They may do better with short instructions.
Less learning ability: Old people may not be able to learn new things as well as they did in the past.
Less ability to understand: Many older adults are confused and not able to understand.
An inability to communicate: Older adults may not be able to speak and ask questions. After a stroke, many patients have aphasia; a lack of ability to speak.
Poor hearing and sight: Vision and hearing get poor as humans age. GDA and others must give a patient their eyeglasses and/or their hearing aid so they can communicate easily.
