Senior Sensitivity

Awareness

Question:

• When does an older person not mind being called a “senior” ?

Answer:

• When they qualify for a “senior’s discount !

Facts and Fiction About Seniors

1. All seniors face the same issues

2. 25% of seniors live in care facilities

3. 10% of seniors live alone

4. Half of all Canadian seniors live on an income below $15,000

5. Mobility and flexibility deterioration can happen in varying degrees as one ages

6. 1% of the clients served by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind are completely blind

7. The minimum type size for easy reading is 10 point and CAPITAL LETTERS are better than lower case print

8. 50% of people between 60 and 79 years of age experience hearing loss

9. Regular exercise contributes to an active mind

10. Most seniors like to have others make decisions for them

Facts and Fiction About SeniorsAnswers

1. All seniors face the same issues

False ~ Everyone has a different personality, experience, dreams

2. 25% of seniors live in care facilities

False ~ Less than 10% of people over 65 live in care facilities

3. 10% of seniors live alone

False ~ 25% of people over 65 live alone

4. Half of all Canadian seniors live on an income below $15,000True ~ Not quite the poverty line, only a small fraction have incomes greater than $40,000

5. Mobility and flexibility deterioration can happen in varying degrees as one ages True ~ Depends on lifestyle, health,

genetics exercise

6. 100% of the clients served by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind are completely blindFalse ~ 10% of clients of CNIB are completely

blind

7. The minimum type size for easy reading is 10 point and CAPITAL LETTERS are better than lower case printFalse ~ Minimum type size of print should be 12 point (14 is even better). Capital letters are like shouting – should only be used for emphasis

8. 50% of people between 60 and 79 years of age experience hearing loss False ~ 65% of those between 60 and 79 years of age have hearing loss; 81% of those over the age of 80. Some studies suggest that a lot of hearing problems actually start when we were younger.

9. Regular exercise contributes to an active mind

True ~ Physical and mental exercises continue to help at all ages

10.Most seniors like to have others make decisions for them

False ~ Most seniors are still independent, able to make choices and control their lives

Myth Slaying

All seniors are the same

• Chronological age is just that – a method of measuring how many years a body has been around, not how that body performs, or how we feel.

• We don’t expect younger generations to dream and act alike. Why should we expect anything different from people who’ve had more time to gather diverse life experiences?

• The myth that old age hits everybody the same is damaging to us all. Our hair may go gray in later years, but our personalities don’t.

Older people have no choice but to be frail

• True, our capacities reduce as we age. A growing body of research, however, says that half of the changes affecting how our bodies function between age 30 and 70 are due to disuse.

• Active living can stop and even reverse the effects of being a “couch potato”. Seniors in some studies have put aside walkers and canes after taking part in careful weight lifting and strength training programs.

Most seniors live in old folks’ homes

• Only a small fraction of seniors live in continuing care centres or other collective dwellings.

• Most seniors live in private homes with their spouses, families or friends.

• About one quarter of seniors live alone.

Seniors are too old to contribute to society

• Thousands of seniors contribute to the labour pool

• Those who choose not to work for pay often volunteer much of their time or spend it in other creative ways.

All seniors are wealthy

• About one in every two seniors report income below $15,000

• Only a small percent of seniors report income over $40,000

Seniors place a disproportionate burden on our health care system

compared to other age groups

• It is true that seniors’ per capita use of medical services is more than that of non-seniors, but that’s only part of the story. The per capita rate is rising faster among non-seniors than for seniors and as active living programs spread throughout the senior population, that shift could be even more dramatic.

Seniors are all living in the past

• Seniors spread more time thinking about the past than other age groups mainly because they have so much more past to look back on.

You can’t teach an old dog (or senior) new tricks

• Seeing physical impairment, we may conclude that seniors’ mental faculties are not as sharp as they used to be, but don’t be fooled. The ability to store and process information often increases with age.

• Many seniors take advantage of continuing brain power to go back to school or learn new trades in their retirement years.

Seniors have an easy life

• Seniors may have fewer time constraints after retirement, but theirs can hardly be considered an “easy” life. Retirement, relocation, illness, decreased income, loss of spouse and loss of friends all cause stress.

• Despite these anxieties, seniors show remarkable resilience in adapting to changes around them.

All seniors are senile

• Memory loss and confusion do not go hand in hand with aging.

• When a senior acts forgetful or confused, we may think “senile”. When an younger person acts the same, we tend to look the other way.

• The real culprits may be medication, fatigue, stress or illness.

Seniors are dependent and helpless

• Most seniors cherish their independence and try to remain in their own homes and survive on their own income as long as possible.

• Home care and other services do not make seniors dependent. In fact, these services help many seniors live in their own homes longer.

• Many seniors have a hard time accepting help, but asking for assistance once in a while isn’t unreasonable.

Friendly to SeniorsCommunication

Hard of Hearing

As we get older, our ability to hear gradully decreases.

By the time we’re 80, 8 out of 10 persons have hearing loss.

Hearing loss associated with aging usually begins around 50, but may strike earlier for people regularly exposed to loud noise such as machinery or music.

Design Solutions

• Minimize background noise

Eliminating or reducing noise of air conditions, fans, heating systems, music and lowering ringers on phones in public areas.

• Absorb sounds

Use upholstered chairs, wall hangings, carpeting and other soft surfaces to absorb sound and decrease echoes, making it easier for seniors to hear primary conversations.

Tips for Communicating

• Attract the person’s attention before speaking, so they can read your lips

– Lightly touch their shoulder or discretely signal with your hand in their line of vision.

• Make sure your face is visible and easy to read– Avoid covering your mouth as you talk – with cups, cigarettes,

your hand

– Avoid standing with your face in the shadow – e.g. with back to a window

– Stand still and avoid chewing gum or eating when speaking

– Use facial expression and body language to help project meaning

• Talk clearly, naturally, a little slower than usual• Be alert for the need to say it another way

– Some people with hearing loss often hesitate to say they cannot hear, so watch for signs that you were not heard

• Emphasize key words and phrases that make the topic obvious

• Stand or sit close to the person• Avoid shouting

– Besides being embarrassing and unnecessary, shouting can cause discomfort for persons wearing hearing aids

• If speech is not enough, consider writing the conversation on paper

• Take time to understand about hearing loss

Vision Impairment

One in nine seniors experience vision loss severe enough to impact daily living.

Design Solutions

• Ample light– The older eye requires three to five times the amount of light to

compensate for the reduced light passing through the lens. Use full spectrum flurescent light, which most resembles natural light.

• Reduce shadows– Task specific lighting is best. Mood lighting can be frustrating and

unpleasant when you can’t read the menu, see faces or even see the various foods on your plate

• Use contrast– Define the edges of the top and bottom steps with a light-colored strip.

BUT avoid heavy patterns on walls – and especially on floors, where people may see the patterns as objects they have to step over or around.

• Reduce glare– Avoid exposed bulbs, glossy fixtures and surfaces. Use awnings,

curtains, blinds, solar film and non-glare glass on artwork. Don’t shine floors.

Tips for Communication

• Let them know you are addressing them by using their names

• Always identify yourself

• Use a normal tone of voice

• Always let blind or visually impaired people know when you are leaving

• When escorting individuals describe room dimensions and lay-out, as well as location of people and objects.

Guide Dog Etiquette

• Do not touch, feed or talk to a working guide dog without permission from its master.

• The guide dog is considered an extension of the person, and unauthorized touching is a violation of personal privacy.

• It is imperative that the guide dog not be distracted while working because the owner and dog could be harmed.

Mobility Constraints

Seniors may utilize a cane, walker, wheelchair or scooter to continue to remain mobile.

Design Solutions

• Avoid heavy, hard-to-open doors and awkward door handles

• Provide alternatives to stairs– Ramps– Elevators– Single-level service areas

• Design spaces large enough for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids to pass easily

– Try this test: walk through spaces with your hands about six inches out from your thighs.

– In waiting areas, allow enough space for a wheelchair to stand without obstructing traffic

• Keep objects in easy reach

• Make all washrooms accessible and easy to use by those with limited mobility and dexterity

– Doors easy to navigate – or better yet, removed, with privacy provided through space design

– Towels and soap in easy reach; toilet flush handles easy to reach and maneuver

– Regular checks by staff

Guidelines for Print Materials

Language

• Choose labels with care:– Use terms such as “seniors” and “older adults”

• Use simple, everyday, conversational language – avoid jargon and acronyms

• Use short paragraphs, short sentences, short words

• Aim for an eighth-grade reading level

Design• Use dark print on light background:

– Ideally, use black type on white paper– Avoid large passages of light print on black background

• Choose matte paper to avoid glare:– Avoid colour combinations with low contrast, such as blue with green and pink or

yellow on white

• Use a plain, clear typeface:– Avoid script and ornamental print

• Use at least 12 point type size:– Avoid combining many different typefaces on the same page

• Use upper and lower case letters in normal style for body type:– Avoid all capitals for large amounts of text

• Use boldface type for headings or emphasis only

Visuals• Depict seniors in all aspects of life, including non-traditional roles:

– Avoid reinforcing the stereotype that seniors are all alike

• Include positive representations of seniors who are frail, women, from visible minority groups or with disabilities:

– Avoid stereotyping the living and working conditions of seniors

• Be realistic – include positive images of seniors in wheelchairs and using walkers or canes:

– Avoid depicting seniors’ successes and out of the ordinary

• Use clear, high-definition photographs rather than illustrations:– Illustrations can unintentionally caricature or stereotype older people

(exception: illustrations may be preferred for audiences with severe visual disabilities)

• Use symbols whenever possible to reinforce printed messages.

Guidelines for Friendly to Seniors Service

• Offer services during the day– Many don’t like going out after dark because of night vision

difficulties

– Public transit runs more regularly during the day

• Communicate clearly– For printed materials use no smaller than 12-point type and use

contrast

– Be alert for hearing loss

– Allow for reduced sight

– Review your phone system with seniors in mind

• Be aware of senior needs and preferences

• Become a resource– Know about the agencies that have built expertise and

reputable programs for seniors

• Include seniors in customer research– Cross-generational studies– Senior-specific surveys and focus groups– Remember, seniors in the 65 to 75 age range, for example,

may be quite different from those over 85 years old

• Take a personal approach– Smile! Show enthusiasm and interest for seniors and seniors’

matters– Serve seniors as individuals, not stereotypes– Provide opportunities for seniors to socialize as you serve them– Be alert for signs of elder abust

• Promote senior services and programs– Yours and others in the community– Organize activities and promotions during Seniors’ Week (the

first full week of June)– Support senior-focused community efforts

• Support employees with aging relatives

Any Questions?