Читать книгу Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 235

It is usually advisable to engage a professional translator or use translated written materials for patients who are not fluent in the language commonly spoken in the medical office. Although it may be tempting to ask for help from a young relative who accompanies the older adult, this is seldom advisable. Children as translators are especially problematic, especially if the medical topic is not appropriate for a child. That said, sometimes even minimal communication may be better than none at all. However, take care to understand the social contract between the child and the older adult. A particularly sensitive child may wish to protect the older adult’s dignity, not understanding that the provider–patient relationship relies strongly on honesty. Alternatively, an older adult may not be comfortable communicating through a child of the opposite gender, thus leading to more confusion and under‐reporting of symptoms. Attention to non‐verbal communication becomes particularly important when children are being used as translators.