INTERVIEW OF THE HEALTHY OLDER ADULT IN THE COMMUNITY
Interviewer: A.S.
Client information
(Include information about the interview in this section. Include date/time of interview, location. Also
include a brief history of the client.)
The interview with A.S. took place on July 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM at her home in
Toronto. A.S. is a 96-year-old Italian woman who lives alone. She moved to
Canada in the 1950s with her husband, who has since passed away. Her
daughter, who is retired, visits her every weekend and brings A.S. to the family
cottage about once a month. A.S. has recently completed chemotherapy for skin
cancer and is currently in stable condition. She receives weekly household help
and regular visits from a community nurse. A.S. is warm and thoughtful but has
become quieter and more isolated after her husband’s passing. She rarely leaves
her home and prefers staying indoors due to her health.
Interview Documentation Interview Analysis and Comments
(eg. What was said in the interview?) (eg. What were you thinking at this time? What
type of communication techniques were you
using? Remember to identify open ended, closed
ended, non verbal)
G: Good morning, A.S., thank you for - Warm tone, smile, and open body
letting me visit you today. posture. I used eye contact and
A: Oh, hello dear, it’s very nice to see calm voice to help her feel
you. Come in, come in. It’s always nice comfortable.
talking with someone. - I used non-verbal
G: How have you been feeling lately? communication.
A: Hmm... I’ve been alright, but I get
tired easily. After the chemotherapy, - This is an open-ended question.
my body’s not the same. But I try to - I used active listening, kept eye
stay positive. My daughter reminds me contact, and nodded as she
to take it slow. spoke.
G: That’s good advice. And you’re doing
great. I see your garden still looks
lovely. You and your husband did a
great job with it. - I showed my empathy and tried
A: Oh, he really loved that garden. to connect with something
Every spring we planted new flowers meaningful to her.
together. Now someone else takes care
of it, but I still look outside every
morning. It brings back memories.
G: It must feel different without him. Do
you go out to the garden often now? - Open-ended question. I showed
A: Not so much anymore. After my my empathy. I gave a pause
treatment, I can’t stay outside long. The after asking to allow her to
sun makes my skin feel sensitive. I just reflect. This was also silence.
watch from the window. It’s not the
same.
G: What do you usually do in the day - Open-ended question.
NURS1100 Interview Assignment - Documentation Winter 2024
now? Encouraged her to talk more
A: I mostly stay indoors. I read about her routine.
sometimes, or I watch TV. My daughter
calls every evening, and on weekends
she comes to visit. Sometimes she
brings the grandkids. They’re sweet
kids.
G: That’s really nice. I heard that Pope - Follow-up question. Tried to find
Francis passed away recently. Did you a meaningful topic and connect
watch the funeral? to her faith.
A: Yes, I did. It was very emotional. I'm
a Catholic. My daughter even talked
about wanting to attend the ceremony.
We watched it together on TV. It
reminded me the time going to church
with my husband on Sundays.
G: That sounds like a strong memory. - I sat quietly after her response,
You’ve been through a lot, but you’re tried to show empathy and
still so strong and kind. Faith must still validation.
be an important part of your life. I really - Supportive and affirming closing
admire that. comment. I gently touched her
A: Thank you, dear. Life isn’t always hand to show my respect.
easy, but you do what you can, right?
And talking to you today makes me feel
good. Do you want some cookies? I
made them this morning.
G: I would love to try them, thank you.
You taught me a lot today.
Student Considerations
(From your interview, please elaborate. What types of communication techniques were effective ?
What barriers did you meet ? What did you learn about your communication style ? Would you
have done anything differently ? Did the nurse-client relationship change ? Identify your Strengths
and weaknesses and areas for improvement
During the interview, I used both verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal
techniques included open-ended questions, active listening, and using a gentle
tone. Non-verbal communication included eye contact, posture, smiling, and
touch.
I used four therapeutic communication techniques: active listening, showing
empathy, pause/silence, and touch. These techniques helped me build trust with
A.S., and she was willing to share her stories with me. We had a few
conversations before because I live next to her, just across the street. That also
helped ease her anxiety about talking to me.
The difficulties I faced were my limited vocabulary in English and A.S.’s Italian-
English accent. Sometimes I wasn’t sure how to ask deeper questions or how to
express myself clearly. I also had to repeat my questions or ask her to repeat her
answers when I didn’t understand.
NURS1100 Interview Assignment - Documentation Winter 2024
My strengths were empathy, listening, and non-verbal communication. I tried to
express myself through showing my real feelings; to let her know I could feel her
emotions and that I care about her. Also, my previous volunteer experience at a
long-term care facility helped a lot. I used the skills I practiced there — like how to
talk gently and respectfully with seniors — to guide me during the interview.
Through this interview experience, I learned how communication works in building
the nurse-client relationship. I gained real experience using different
communication techniques to reach my goal and I will keep practicing to improve.
Was this interview recorded ? Please indicate yes or no. NO
Was permission to record obtained ? Please indicate yes or no N/A
NURS1100 Interview Assignment - Documentation Winter 2024