Clinical Interviewing
This is the primary tool used by health and mental health care professionals to assess older adults
This non-verbal behavior, combined with actively listening, is key to showing empathy and genuine interest.
What is maintaining eye contact?
Social workers should speak clearly and adjust their voice volume when necessary to assist older adults with these impairments.
What are hearing and vision impairments?
Social workers must be flexible with this aspect of the interview, adjusting it based on the client's needs to prevent fatigue.
What is the duration of the interview?
Clinical interviews use this type of interview/ questioning format, rather than basic self-reported questionnaires.
What is structured or semi-structured?
This action during the early part of a session can ease a client's anxiety and make them more comfortable.
What is inviting the client to ask questions?
Using this lens when interviewing older adults helps recognize the impact of past trauma and creates a safe, supportive environment.
What is a trauma-informed lens or approach?
These signs, such as slower responses or changes in posture, can indicate this in an older adult during an interview.
What is fatigue?
Along with cognitive changes, this factor involving medication use can further complicate clinical interviews with older adults.
What is polypharmacy or medication side effects?
Identifying these can help bridge differences in age and life experience between a social worker and client.
What are commonalities or shared interests?
Social workers must adapt their interviewing skills when working with older adults to account for these four factors.
What are physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors?
This question type should be avoided if the client prefers storytelling, such as asking, "Rate your pain from 1 to 10.
What is a numerical rating question?