Speak directly to the patient using their preferred name, using signing if appropriate.
Think about the different ways people communicate
Ask the patient’s permission to talk to their family & carers if this is appropriate
Use short sentences and break the information down into chunks
Use everyday words and avoid jargon
Give the patient TIME to process your questions and TIME to reply
Encourage them to “show you” as well as “tell you” what they think or feel
Use Easy read documents
Where possible, make eye contact with the patient – this may involve crouching down if they are in a wheelchair
