A.S. November 26, 2008 Geriatric Interview The geriatric person I interviewed is my father. His name is Danny and he is currently 66 years old. This assignment gave me an opportunity to discuss things we have never touched on before. The life history portion of the interview was very interesting because it allowed me to realize how different we both are, because the life styles have changed tremendously fifty to sixty years ago. My father was the oldest of four children so he spent most of his childhood taking care of his younger siblings. Some responsibilities were to cook and make sure they ate on time, clean the house, do laundry, and water his father’s plants. His mother, my grandmother, was not home much because she was a gambler so he had to pretty much take her place at home. This, however, was beneficial to him because he was able to learn how to cook delicious Thai food during this period and used it to make a living later on in life. Despite all the work he did around the house, he did not receive an allowance so he had to take little jobs outside the house to be able to save up for toys and school supplies. As the interview moved on into the portion about his school days, I could see his eyes sparkle with excitement reliving the memories. Both his elementary and high schools were close to home so he had the luxury of going home for lunch breaks. On other days, when his friends bought him lunch, he would stay on campus and play a round of soccer or spent time in the school’s library. He read a lot more than other children at his age and was seen as a nerd to his peers. He did exceptionally well in math and science and continued to go on to receive his Associates in Science degree from Himadon Jarern University of Bangkok in Thailand. Life was tough for the teenage Danny because in Thailand, funds such as grants or financial aids were not available to students, so he was not able to continue on to get his Bachelor’s degree. He then decided to find a good job, something that did not require a high degree, and landed a spot as a waiter in a restaurant within the Siam Intercontinental Hotel, a five-star hotel located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Here, he developed his English speaking skills because he had to deal with foreigners and tourists. Life took a huge turn when one of his friends asked him to come to New York to work in a restaurant he was opening and my father made the decision that he was going to leave Thailand for a while and give America a try. He came to America at age twenty-three when gas was only a quarter per gallon, lived and worked in New York until his early forties, and has made Florida his new home since 1993. He met his wife in Queens, New York, and after dating for four years, married her in 1981 and started his family there. He did not want children but his wife desperately loved kids so they agreed to have one child. They both went on to have three children in total, all of wh ...

1. A.S.
November 26, 2008
Geriatric Interview
The geriatric person I interviewed is my father. His name
is Danny and he is currently 66 years old. This assignment gave
me an opportunity to discuss things we have never touched on
before. The life history portion of the interview was very
interesting because it allowed me to realize how different we
both are, because the life styles have changed tremendously
fifty to sixty years ago. My father was the oldest of four
children so he spent most of his childhood taking care of his
younger siblings. Some responsibilities were to cook and make
sure they ate on time, clean the house, do laundry, and water his
father’s plants. His mother, my grandmother, was not home
much because she was a gambler so he had to pretty much take
her place at home. This, however, was beneficial to him
because he was able to learn how to cook delicious Thai food
during this period and used it to make a living later on in life.
Despite all the work he did around the house, he did not receive
an allowance so he had to take little jobs outside the house to be
able to save up for toys and school supplies.
As the interview moved on into the portion about his
school days, I could see his eyes sparkle with excitement
reliving the memories. Both his elementary and high schools
were close to home so he had the luxury of going home for
lunch breaks. On other days, when his friends bought him
lunch, he would stay on campus and play a round of soccer or
spent time in the school’s library. He read a lot more than other
children at his age and was seen as a nerd to his peers. He did
exceptionally well in math and science and continued to go on
to receive his Associates in Science degree from Himadon
Jarern University of Bangkok in Thailand.
Life was tough for the teenage Danny because in Thailand,
funds such as grants or financial aids were not available to

2. students, so he was not able to continue on to get his Bachelor’s
degree. He then decided to find a good job, something that did
not require a high degree, and landed a spot as a waiter in a
restaurant within the Siam Intercontinental Hotel, a five-star
hotel located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Here, he
developed his English speaking skills because he had to deal
with foreigners and tourists. Life took a huge turn when one of
his friends asked him to come to New York to work in a
restaurant he was opening and my father made the decision that
he was going to leave Thailand for a while and give America a
try. He came to America at age twenty-three when gas was only
a quarter per gallon, lived and worked in New York until his
early forties, and has made Florida his new home since 1993.
He met his wife in Queens, New York, and after dating for
four years, married her in 1981 and started his family there. He
did not want children but his wife desperately loved kids so
they agreed to have one child. They both went on to have three
children in total, all of which were born in New York. He never
thought he would ever hear himself say it, but he enjoys being a
father. One of the things he is most proud of is the fact that he
has a family and everyone is still living under the same roof
with him. He mentioned that he could not imagine living by
himself because he is so used to having his wife and children
around. If the three kids were to get married and move out, he
hopes to at least have them live nearby him and his wife.
After working full time for over 35 years, last 12 years as
a sushi chef in Florida, he is finally retired. It was very
difficult at first to accept the fact that he is no longer in the
physical shape to work and provide for his family as he used to
do in the past. It took a lot of convincing and support from his
loved ones to accept the fact and retire. It has been a year since
retirement and his life has changed tremendously. The days
finally became calmer and longer. He now gets to actually live
and enjoy the four bedroom house that he has been paying
mortgage for the last six years. He also gets to cook, clean,
garden, stay with his dogs, take afternoon naps, watch movies,

3. read, and enjoy his Buddha, stamp, and coin collections. Most
importantly, he now spends most of his days with his wife of 27
years, whereas he used to only have time with her one day out
of the week. He said he forgot what it felt like to live life and
do the things that he enjoyed without having to worry about
work. His middle daughter received her Bachelor’s degree in
graphic design in 2007 and his oldest will graduate from the
dental hygiene program in 2009. Things are falling into place
for him and he has never thought retirement could be this great.
His medical history reveals that he has controlled
hypertension with a history of stroke and heart attack that
occurred at the same time back in 2003. He is now under a care
of a physician and sees the doctor every three months. His
current medications include Coumadin, Enalapril, anti-gout
medications, vitamins, and occasionally pain relievers. He used
to smoke cigarettes but quit 25 years ago when his first child
was born. He does not drink alcohol because it interacts with
his medications and tries to take long walks around the
neighborhood 3-4 times a week.
When asked about his dental history he admitted that he
did not pay much attention to his oral health when he was
younger. As a result, he now wears dentures and only has three
natural teeth remaining. The dentures make it hard for him to
chew hard, sticky foods so he tend to eat softer foods like
bananas, rice, cereal, and oatmeal, both for the texture and to
help lower bad cholesterol. He regrets losing his natural teeth
and likes to advise younger people to pay attention to their oral
health and save their teeth. Before his daughter entered the
dental hygiene program, he was unaware that his dentures too
need proper cleaning and used to wear them to sleep. He feels a
lot better about his mouth now that he has someone to go to for
questions and concerns. He is glad his daughter chose to enter
the dental field and help patients retain their natural teeth
because he knows first-hand how difficult living with dentures
can be.
This interview made me look at my father from a different

4. point of view. I never thought of him as anything else besides
being the best father I could ever ask for. It made me realize
that he went through childhood as well as the teenage stage just
like I did. It was interesting to see the differences in economics
and cultures back then compared to the present. I am also
reminded that I am very lucky to be in this country with the
conveniences of technologies such as cellular phones and the
internet that my father could not have even imagined. Like my
father, living with medical conditions and having to take
medications everyday of your life is probably not easy but that
is the reality of most geriatrics. Also, some people end up
living by themselves as they age so it is probably stressful to be
physically compromised and neglected at the same time. This
project has given me an opportunity to know my father better,
as well as more understanding of what a geriatric goes through
as they enter the later stages of their lives. I will take all that I
have learned into consideration to better serve my geriatric
clients.
1
THE GERIATRIC INTERVIEW AND SUMMARY
GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS
DEH 2806 CLINIC 4
This enriching learning experience will encompass the
interviewing process, recognition of
physical changes and emotional characteristics of the aging as
well as the factors, which
influence the medical and dental health of the aging population.

5. The assignment will be
based upon two, one-hour interviews with an individual age 65
or older. The student will
be provided with interview guidelines, questions, and an
interview permission slip. The
summary will be a computer-typewritten report, which is due
October 23
rd
. The interview
summary, medical history and permission form are all that need
to be turned in.
INTERVIEW GUIDELINES:
1. Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the interview.
Ask person what
they prefer to be called. i.e., Mrs. Smith or Mary.
2. Explain the types of questions that you will be asking them.
Please inform the
person that they will be questions of a personal nature.
3. If you plan on using a recording device, please ask
permission prior to pulling it
out. (Try out the device beforehand to make sure it works, bring
extra batteries.)
4. It is imperative that you have the volunteer sign a consent

6. form before the
interview! The consent describes your project and assures him
or her that the
information given will be kept confidential.
5. Obtain signed permission form from the individual. Have
him or her fill out the
green portion of an MDC Medical History Form.
6. Arrange a time and place which is agreeable for the
individual to be interviewed.
Remember not to go to the home of a stranger, and remember
that an elderly
person’s energy level may be low at certain times of the day.
Choose a quiet
place free of interruptions. This interview is done best in two
sitting so as not to
exhaust the interviewee, and to get accurate and descriptive
answers.
7. Communication is improved if you seat yourself facing the
individual about 2-3
feet away. Remember to speak slowly and clearly and offer
feedback. Do not
be judgmental.
8. Use open-ended questions. Avoid questions which can be
answered with a

7. simple “yes” or “no”.
2
9. Remember it is common for elderly people to cry when they
reminisce. Come
prepared with a tissue, or be able to take a break if they need to.
10. Relax! Take your time! Enjoy listening to them. Be
patient if they take time
answering. It’s ok if you don’t do every question. The
important thing is letting
them recall their life and tell it to someone who is interested in
listening!
11. Thank the person for sharing their history and experiences
with you.
12. Offer dental hygiene suggestions and recommendations to
the person you are
interviewing. This is an opportunity for both of you to learn
from each other.
To turn in (Check to make sure you have EACH of these
elements):
– 4 of the MDC DH Medical History

8. t and finish times.
13. Within your paper, provide a summary of your own feelings
and opinions about
the interview itself. How did it go? Was your interviewee easy
to speak to? Did
you learn anything? Were you surprised by anything you heard?
Do the older
adult’s opinions about medications and health correspond with
your own? View
the grading rubric to ensure that you have all components
necessary for this
project.
3
GERIATRIC INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW ONE: HEALTH/DENTAL HISTORY
For this interview have the individual complete a Miami Dade
College, Dental Hygiene
Program, Dental Hygiene Clinic Health History, green pages
only. Review the health
history with your elderly individual for accuracy and complete
the following questions.

9. 1. How well do you feel is your medical health? How often do
you visit the
physician?
2. Is there anything that interferes with your medical health?
I.e., smoking, lack of
exercise, poor diet, insufficient resources or medical insurance
to seek medical
care.
3. How many medications do you take on a daily basis? What
are they for? Do they
result in xerostomia?
4. Which factors that you participate in are those that promote
your medical health?
i.e., regular exercise, proper diet, adequate sleep, regular
medical care.
5. How well do you feel is your dental health? How often do
you visit the dentist?
6. Which factors interfere with your dental health? I.e.,
smoking, oral habits, poor
diet, oral hygiene insufficient resources or dental insurance to
seek dental care.
7. What do you do to maintain your dental health? I.e., regular
dental care, proper

10. plaque control measures, good diet.
8. Have you ever been told that you have an oral disease?
Gingivitis, periodontitis,
cavities, oral cancer?
9. Do you have any oral pains? Have you spoken to a
professional about it?
10. What is does your dental care at home consist of?
11. What services would you like to see provided at the dental
office?
12. Do you have any questions or concerns about your medical
or dental health?
13. Do you have medical insurance? Dental insurance? How do
you pay for your
health care?
14. Are you edentulous?
15. Do you wear an oral prosthesis? When did you obtain it?
When did you last
have it adjusted?
16. How do you maintain your prosthesis on a daily basis?
17. Do you have difficulty eating as a result of your teeth?
18. Do you have any limitations to your daily activities?

11. 4
THE GERIATRIC EXPERIENCE
INTERVIEW ONE: LIFE HISTORY
Remember, these are sample questions, not a script. Have a
conversation with your
candidate. Feel free to expand on questions and even ask
additional ones.
1. What do you remember about your childhood? (Earliest
memories, family, etc.)
2. When and where were you born?
3. What were your school days like? What level did you
complete in school?
4. What responsibilities did you have at home when you were
young?
5. Did you work outside the home? If so, what was your
profession? Would you
choose the same occupation today?
6. Did you go to university or college? How did you decide
what you wanted to
study?
7. Do you have any military experience?

12. 8. Did you marry? If so, what do you remember about your
wedding? What do you
see differently in the marriages of today and what has stayed the
same?
9. Do you have any children, grandchildren, great-
grandchildren? How often do
you see them?
10. What’s different about growing up today from when you
were growing up?
11. Where did you live as a child? As an adult?
12. Are you happy with where you live now?
13. Who do you currently live with, is there a special reason
behind the
circumstances?
14. Do you have a close relationship with any other person
now? (Friends, family,
significant other)
15. Do you have any hobbies? Any collections?
16. What’s your most cherished family tradition? Why is it
important?
17. How do you usually spend your day? What do you like to do
in your spare time?

13. 18. What are you the most proud of in your life?
19. Who has had the greatest influence on your life? How?
20. Are you retired? If so, how has your life changed since
retirement, how do you
supplement your income? If not, why have you chosen not to
retire, when do you
think you will?
21. Is there anything you would still like to do in your life? If
you won $1 million
tomorrow, what would you do with the money?
22. What’s the hardest thing about growing older? The best
thing?
23. What advice do you have for a younger person?
24. Did you visit the dentist as a child? What experiences did
you have at the
office? How have dental visits changed over the years?
5
MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

14. DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM
INTERVIEW PERMISSION FORM
I, _________________________________ (print name) agree to
allow a Miami Dade
College Dental Hygiene student to interview me for the purpose
of his/her educational
experience. The information obtained will be kept confidential
and discussed only with the
instructor and/or small groups of classmates enrolled in the
Dental Hygiene 4 course.
Signature
Date
Contact Phone Number

15. Revised 08/19
Geriatric Interview Grading Rubric
Name: ____________________
Poor
Below
Average
Average
Above
Average
Exceptional
All questions were answered from
the summary guidelines and
instructions.

16. 1 2 3 4 5
Interview permission form and
medical history are included with
the final paper.
1 3 5
Overall clarity of writing. 1 2 3 4 5
Overall logic and organization of
arguments/story line presented.
1 2 3 4 5
Overall assessment of
interviewing depth and rigor.
1 2 3 4 5
Overall assessment of
grammar/mechanics.
1 2 3 4 5
Content referenced is properly
cited.
1 2 3 4 5
Paper demonstrates an
understanding of the dynamics
affecting the geriatric population
(social, economic, cultural, health,
health care, governmental, laws,

17. physical, psychological, and
physiological).
1 2 3 4 5
Plausible recommendations.
1 2 3 4 5
Discussion of lessons learned
from analyzing the chosen
interviewee.
1 2 3 4 5
Faculty Comments: