Communication Screening Program for a Geriatric Continuing Care Unit

The growing interest in the communication problems of older individuals is largely a product of heightened awareness of changes in the demographic characteristics of our society. At present, about 10% of the Canadian popu lation is over 65, and population projections indicate that this will increase to approximately 23% by the year 2025 (Health & Welfare Canada, 1987). Although statistics on the numbers of Canadians with communication impairments have not been gathered, trends can be observed from American figures. In the United States, at least 20% of those over 65 are impaired in speech and/or language, and approximately 43% are hearing impaired (Fein, 1983). Fein (1983) has estimated that, by the year 2050, 39% of the speech-language impaired individuals and 59% of the hearing impaired individuals in this society will be over 65 years of age.