This article provides an overview of communication between older patients a
nd their physicians. The authors discuss distinctive features of geriatric
medical visits and empirical investigations of communication between physic
ians and older patients in real life clinical encounters highlighting the c
ontent, interactional processes, and outcomes of care. They also discuss st
rategies for improving communication between physicians and older patients
using new and innovative technologies. The authors conclude that healing in
its broadest sense can occur only through a humanistic approach to geriatr
ic care.