How should questions be phrased to a resident who has had a stroke?

When communicating with a resident who has had a stroke, it is essential to prioritize clarity and simplicity in your questions. Keeping questions short and simple helps the individual process and understand the information more effectively, as cognitive and language abilities may be altered due to the stroke. This approach minimizes confusion and maximizes the likelihood of a meaningful response.

Complex sentences can overwhelm the resident, and asking multiple questions at once may lead to difficulties in processing, making it hard for them to focus on a single idea. Using medical jargon further complicates communication, as it can introduce terminology that the resident may not be familiar with, making it more challenging for them to respond appropriately. Thus, phrasing questions simply supports better comprehension and engagement.