Angelic Hospice Offers Tips for Visiting Those Who are Uncommunicative

Reading to patients who are non-communicative can enhance the quality of the visit for both of you advises Angelic Health Hospice professionals.

You may feel awkward about visiting a friend or family member who is unresponsive, non-verbal or cannot make their needs known due to a stroke or other medical conditions. You may be asking yourself: “Why am I here? ”, “How can I make my visit meaningful?”, or “Do my visits even make a difference?”

Be assured your visits do make a difference and are very meaningful. “Although it may be difficult to communicate because of what we’re used to in our normal day-to-day lives, unresponsive patients can feel your presence, hear, and may also see you,” said Mie Lowe, RN, patient care manager/ admissions coordinator at Angelic Health Hospice.  "Never underestimate the value of your presence to both the patient and their family”

Lowe also advises to be aware that unless they are hearing impaired, they can hear you even if you think they are not listening. Hearing is believed to be the last of our senses to go.

Here are some tips to make you and the person you are visiting more comfortable with your visit:

Set Your Intention--Before you go on your visit, make sure you feel calm and at peace. Take a few moments to meditate and release any negative thoughts from your mind. It's important to control any anxiety you may be experiencing. 

Presence--Speak in a soft and calm tone. Introduce yourself and let the patient know you’re there. They can hear you. It’s okay to not say much, just knowing that someone is there is comforting.

Music-- Ask family members or caregivers if the patient has any favorite music that you could play softly during your visit.

Reading--Bring a book or a magazine of interest to the person you are visiting and read it to them.  They may not be able to respond to you directly through words, but they can respond to you in other ways. Look for nonverbal cues like eye contact, general alertness, small smiles, and body movement. 

To learn more about programs and services for hospice patients, visit www.angelic.health or call us toll free at 844-948-0645.

Angelic Hospice Offers Tips for Visiting Those Who are Uncommunicative

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