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What it is: Here, we mean talking with people with an intellectual or developmental disability or limited communication.
Why it matters: Many older people with an intellectual disability have more than one medical condition or advanced illness requiring palliative care.
Many people with intellectual disability are cared for by family carers and as they age, may need more support. In some cases, people with intellectual disability may be admitted to aged care because of:
What I need to know: Older people with intellectual disability:
Always give the person your full and complete attention and make sure that you have their attention before speaking.
Do not talk over the person as though they are not there.
Give clear and simple information.
Use language that fits with the person’s communication level.
Look at the person not the disability.
Use pictures and diagrams to clarify explanations if this is an appropriate way to communicate with the person.
Do I speak to people with disability in an age-appropriate way?
What can I do when speaking with a person with disability to help them understand what I am saying?
See related palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets:
People with Specific Needs
Person-Centred Care
Talking about Dying
For references and the latest version of all the Tip Sheets visit www.palliaged.com.au/Practice-Centre/For-Careworkers
CareSearch is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Updated July 2022