The elderly portion of our society is increasing each year, with that the need for speech pathologists and many other medical professionals also increase. Speech language pathologists (SLPs) assist the elderly with a variety of things from relearning to speak after a stroke to improving their articulation and volume. There are specialized SLPs in the geriatric field that often work in private clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. These specialized SLPs keep current with the ever evolving technology and newest methods of therapy which appeal to the older generations.
SLPs that specialize in geriatrics must have patience and a love for the older generation, as geriatrics can be one of the most trying generations to work with. Although there are portions of our society who realize they need help with their speech, many are set in their ways and believe that everyone else needs to “just listen better”. The elders who admit their difficulties are amazing to work with, as watching a person regain their ability to communicate is a beautiful thing. The elders who are stubborn can be trying as they often attempt to ignore the clinician’s therapy techniques. The biggest step for these clinicians is to have the patient realize that with the clinician’s help they will once again be able to easily communicate with others and improve their quality of life.
As a future SLP specializing in geriatrics, I find this generation both the most difficult and the most rewarding to work with. I have helped several clients that don’t think they have a problem realize that with proper therapy they can improve their quality of life. One of the most rewarding things to see is an elder once again being able to communicate with their spouse, children or grandchildren. I cannot wait to work full-time with the elderly community, I am sure that it will be a very rewarding job!
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