Communicating With Patients and Families During COVID-19
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for clear communication between health care providers and patients and families in many ways. Issues such as mask use and social distancing impact everyone's communication and may have a particularly devastating effect on those with communication disorders. In addition, communicating about the virus and necessary precautions has challenged health care providers and patients alike. The pandemic has spotlighted the need for not only health literacy but also digital and scientific literacy, and has amplified the impact of health disparities on health care interactions and outcomes. This clinical focus article reviews these issues, describes what is known about the skills of adults in the United States, and provides resources for communities, organizations, providers, and patients. Conclusion Speech-language pathologists and audiologists working with older adults need to consider how the issues described affect patients and families, and work on their own communication skills to help bridge gaps that may have widened during these turbulent times.