YAPI Help Center

Maintain an accessible office space - Make sure operatories, waiting rooms, and hallways are clear of excess furniture and other objects. This makes spaces easier to navigate for patients with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and other accessibility devices. (This applies for younger people too!)

Address seniors by their surname to start - Elderly patients tend to expect being called Mr., Ms., Mrs., and Doctor as a sign of respect. And if they prefer you use their first name, they'll usually tell you so. If you're unsure, you can always ask, but when you first meet an older patient, start by addressing them formally. If they express a preference, note it in their records for next time.

Teach patients how to use devices for forms - Many older patients are comfortable with paper forms and can get frustrated with new technology. If they're new to your practice, make sure they know how to use in-office devices to fill out forms and walk them through it if they need. You can even make a point of showing them that by using your device, a lot of their information will fill itself out next time - they'll only need to check it over!

Give them your full attention - Amid the hustle and bustle, it's important - especially for older patients - to show you're focused on them. When you first meet, make sure you face them (this especially helps with folks who have hearing and sight issues), maintain eye contact, and avoid distractions.

Create comfort - A pillow and a blanket can go a long way: offer patients something to support their neck and a cover to keep them warm and cozy during treatment. This makes things easier on their bodies (aging can get achy!) and shows you care about their overall wellbeing.

Communicate clearly - Talk through each step of treatment using plain language. Once you're done, write down any post-op instructions, steps for procedures they should be doing regularly, and recommendations for dental care items they need to buy. You can even email or text this to them to follow up if they're comfortable with these forms of communication.

Listen - Communication goes both ways. Leave space to let your patient express themselves and ask questions, even if there's a bit of an awkward silence while they're thinking.

Set up premedicate reminders - Older patients may have a lot of medications to take and may forget one that's not in their daily repertoire. Set up premedicate reminders if there's something they need to take before their next appointment.

Make sure your office number is saved as a contact - Older patients may disregard or be suspicious of texts and calls from numbers they don't know. (Though this is true for people of all ages nowadays!) Make sure your patient has saved your email, Text Message Number and office number in their phone (if they're different) and send them a test text to make sure it goes through. That way, they'll know it's you when they receive messages, reminders, forms, and review requests.