"Dr. Dreher's book is a concise and highly readable guide to developing and enhancing one's communication skills for the betterment of the elderly person's quality of life. . . [It] clearly has a place on the bookshelf of every layman and professional alike who interacts with elderly people." - Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, about the first edition ". . . extremely useful as a teaching tool." - Geriatric Nursing, about the first edition This popular text provides practical guidelines for effective interaction with the elderly and presents techniques for overcoming common communication problems and disorders common among elders. New to this second edition are chapters addressing assisted living, the use of computers for communication, the "Boomers," and new approaches for dealing with emotional strains of anxiety and depression, among others. Each chapter concludes with exercises and activities designed to help readers practice and hone their skills. This book is ideal for courses in departments of gerontology, social work, nursing, and communication.
Barbara Bender Dreher, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Communication and former director of the speech and hearing curriculum at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and presents many workshops for professionals in health care and human services. She has served on national and state committees on the communication disorders of adults and was a founding member of the Ohio Research Council on Aging. After acting as a consultant with the Greene County Health Department, she founded the first support group for stroke victims in southern Ohio. While serving as a family caregiver she built an extensive record of professional and semi-professional publications.