A senior-friendly office

There are many ways to make your office a comfortable and positive place for visits by senior clients. These tips can enhance communication and reduce confusion

By: Wendy Cuthbert
February 15, 2015 November 6, 2019
00:00

Financial advisors working with seniors should make appropriate accommodations to ensure that visits with these clients run smoothly. The best way to start this process is to look at your own office with a critical eye, according to Peter Silin, founder of Diamond Geriatrics Inc., an eldercare consulting service in Vancouver.

Here are some tips for assessing whether your offices are senior-friendly:

– Ditch the mood lighting. “When we’re younger, we don’t need nearly as much light as we need when we’re older,” says Karen Henderson, eldercare consultant and founder of Long Term Care Planning Network in Toronto. Adequate lighting – from general overhead lighting to task lighting – in all areas is essential.

– Watch your step. Scatter rugs may look welcoming, but they are a tripping hazard. Carpeting, as long as it’s not too thick (which makes the use of assistive devices very difficult), must be in good shape with no snags. Heavily patterned flooring also can confuse clients who are experiencing cognitive decline, says Henderson. Wall-mounted handrails (along hallways, for example) can be useful, as can grab bars in the washroom.

– Turn off the radio. Background noise can be more distracting to senior clients, especially if they have hearing aids, Silin says.

You can ensure these clients have a better chance of hearing and understanding meeting points by muting electronic devices and disabling phones while these clients visit. Also, you should remind your senior clients to let you know if they don’t hear something clearly.

– Recognize furniture hazards. Manoeuvre around the areas of your office with an assistive device (or imagine doing so.) Ensure that there’s enough space around furniture for ease of movement.

Seating comfort should also be considered. This is not the place for deep couches and overly soft seating because seniors can struggle when getting in and out of the sitting position.

– Keep things simple. Make sure your office signage is unfussy, large and bright enough for someone who is visually or cognitively impaired, says Silin.

During client meetings, follow an agenda. Provide printed material that is clean, with plenty of white space, and in a larger font.

– Take the time. Taking time to socialize will improve your client/advisor relationship. Doing so also will help you unearth concerns or deficits as you and your client move forward. Asking what can be done to make the next visit more comfortable for your client, Silin says, can reveal areas that need improving.