Communication Patient-Doctor: A Challenge for the Geriatric Patient or the Family Physician

Abstract

There is a notable increase of elders which is directly proportional to the volume of consultation provided to them. By their physical (presbyopia, presbycusis), psychological (depression, isolation) and social (abandonment) conditions, patients present difficulties to communicate with doctors. There is also, in doctors, lack of skills and abilities to achieve a proper link allowing strengthening a good doctorpatient relationship; it is necessary to know how to listen and understand the elderly in an atmosphere of empathy. This problem affects the health of the geriatric patient, for example, in his lack of therapeutic attachment since, generally, he does not know his disease and how to handle it. It is very important to deal with it and thereby find the tools to help improving the doctor-patient communication.