Communicating with clients is always important, but wearing a mask can make it harder for you and your clients to understand each other. Many older adults have problems with their hearing, and with your mouth covered by a mask, this can increase the muffling of your voice and the decrease how loud you are speaking.
Wearing a mask also blocks a lot of facial cues that can help your clients feel connected to you, like smiling. That’s why it’s important to do what you can to communicate frequently with your clients.
Below, we provide some advice, suggestions, and tips for how to communicate with your clients while wearing a mask.
Show your clients your photo on your ID badge. This way they can see your face and what you look like. With a mask covering your face, it can be hard for clients to recognize you, and showing them your badge can help to make them less fearful of you. You may also consider taping/pinning a picture of yourself to your uniform.
It can also be helpful to repeat your name and their name often. This is especially helpful if your client has any kind of cognitive impairment, like dementia.
- “Hi Susan, my name is Maria.”
- “Susan, I am going to help you take a bath now.”
- “I’m Maria. I’m here to help you get dressed.”
Tell the client what you are planning to do. “I am going to give you some water to drink,” or “I am helping you out of bed.”
Make use of body language, gestures, and eye contact to get your message across. And be sure to always remember to speak loudly, slowly, and clearly. This will help your client understand what you are saying.
Use simple language and simple gestures. Short simple explanations are always better than longer ones. You may have to try a few different words or gestures sometimes to get your message across. “Would you like a sip of water?” and “Would you like to drink some water?” You can try holding up your hand to your mouth to pretend you’re drinking a glass of water.
Consider writing down some simple concepts. If your client can read, it can be helpful to write down simple concepts that relate to your tasks. Your clients’ family member might even be able to help you put together some flash cards. Things like:
- Can I help you take a bath?
- Are you thirsty?
- Do you want to take a nap?