SLI Focuses on Cognitive and Communication Wellness with the Aging Population

Every Tuesday afternoon, excited chatter and trills of laughter ring throughout the Samuel A. Green House, an independent living facility for seniors in Elkins Park, Pa. One week, the seniors performed a rendition of “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music; another, they shared various memories based upon the color of the M&M they chose. These fun, interactive activities are part of the weekly speech-language classes the Speech-Language Institute of Salus University has been hosting since September. Run by clinical educator Jill Grogg, CCC-SLP and several speech-language pathology (SLP) students, the classes focus on cognitive and communication wellness for aging adults.

The goal of the classes is to provide residents with tactics for common issues they may have regarding their cognitive, speech and language skills – and ensure they are having fun while they learn, according to Grogg.

“Cognitive-communication deficits can have a snowball effect,” she said. “Many people attribute this to getting older. However, aging alone does not cause memory or communication problems that significantly interfere with daily living. I hope the residents are able to take away strategies to help them manage their daily lives, comradery and friendships with other residents, feeling engaged with the students, and having some fun while using their noodles.”

Each class incorporates different topics, recent ones included: word finding, different types of attention, vocal health and memory. The students give an overview of each topic – complete with strategies to use in times of difficulty – provide an interactive activity to enhance learning and assign some take-home activities.

Grogg explains the classes not only have an impact on the residents, but the students too as they transition into clinician roles.

“It allows the students to practice rapport building, to develop a sense of comfort with the adult population, and to develop skills needed to plan and execute treatment,” she said. “The students are realizing the importance of what SLPs do with the adult population and the importance of the functional outcomes in daily living situations.”

Donna Boyer, director of Community Services for Federation Housing, Inc., parent company for the Samuel A. Green House, expressed her appreciation for the classes.

“They’re amazing,” she said. “It’s been a win-win for our residents as well as the students. The residents are really engaged and are enjoying the classes.”

First-year SLP student Saranda Snyder, said she’s enjoyed her experience at the Samuel A. Green House as she plans on working with the elderly population during her professional career. She also hopes there are more takeaways than just the lessons they are trying to impart on the residents.

“They are getting therapy, and they don't even realize it because they are having fun,” she said. “I think it overall increases the quality of life for the participants. I also hope that they are able to recall and remember the information they are learning with us, even if it’s just telling a friend or family member about what they did that day.”

One of the residents, Betty Pearlmutter, has become a regular attendee after a recent class.

“This is only the second time I’ve attended, but after today I’m coming every time,” she said. “Besides being informative, they made it fun. I think everything they presented was worthwhile.”