Question

2. Refer to Case Study 1 below to answer the following: Describe the communication barriers in this example.

Case study 1

Joan is a healthy and happy 83-year-old woman. She is moving into the supported accommodation units where Cecil works. Joan is mostly independent and rarely requires much support. She has arthritis, which can affect her mobility. She is moving into the unit because it is physically accessible; it is in her local area and it is reassuring to have support available when she needs it. Joan’s daughter also lives nearby.

Joan is affected by the early stages of dementia. When Joan is run-down, tired, unwell or struggling with memory, her communication is affected. She loves to chat and finds it very frustrating when she can’t find the right words. Occasionally, when Joan is experiencing a particularly difficult time, she calls staff for assistance but is unable to describe what she needs.

Cecil has heard a staff member complain to another person about Joan, saying, ‘This service is for people with low needs. If she can’t say what she needs she should go into a nursing home! I don’t have time to figure out what she wants’.

Answer 1

Here cummunication barrier is because of medical condition of Joan as she has dementia and her communication is affected and on part of staff member in facility, they are not actively listening to Joan as well as their own perceptions and attitudes towards her causes communication barrier between them.