The use of discourse analyses and procedures for communication programming in long-term care facilities

Discourse analysis and intervention procedures offer promising new techniques and outcome measures for communication programming in long-term care facilities. This article reviews the nature of communication deficits observed in nursing homes and then provides an overview of discourse behaviors, tasks, levels of organization, and analysts measure. Discourse characteristics of normal elderly and of individuals with Alzheimer's disease are identified. The potential use of discourse assessments and interventions to focus communication interventions and document outcome efficacy is described, and case examples are used to illustrate discourse applications.