10 Tips For Communicating With Seniors
Part 2
6. Do Not Be Condescending
As seniors age, they may lose some of their ability to hear. As a result, you may have to slow down your speech or ‘turn up your volume’ whenever you have a conversation. Ensure that your tone does not come off as condescending during these moments.
Whether they have extreme hearing loss or dementia, do not speak to them condescendingly as if they are a child. Patronizing them will likely start an argument.
7. Speak Clearly
It can be challenging for some seniors to admit that they have a problem understanding the conversation happening around them or trouble hearing. Therefore, ensure that you stay calm and are gentle whenever you are having a conversation. Try and speak clearly and loudly without necessarily shouting. Avoid talking too quickly and do not mumble.
Ensure you enunciate your speech and focus on an idea at a time. It also helps to ensure that your sentences are short and straightforward. Always consider rephrasing your sentences or using different words when you notice that they do not seem to grasp what you are talking about.
8. Accept Differences Of Opinions
You have to accept that your family will not always agree on everything all the time, no matter how close you may be. Accept the differences of opinions and respect each person’s opinion. If any family member disagrees with you, do not disregard them. You must listen to each person’s opinion and learn to compromise if a decision has to be made.
9. Listen To What Your Elders Say
It would be best to listen whenever an elder is talking to you. Avoid interrupting them or trying to fill any gaps of silence that may occur during the conversation. A brief pause is not necessarily an invitation for you to speak. It may be because they are thinking of the right thing to say. While communication has to go both ways, you need to ensure that they hear what you say.
10. Do Not Give Unsolicited Advice
Trying to advise seniors may not go so well, as they have raised you, and in their eyes, you are still a child, even if you are an adult. This often reflects in caregiving, where the roles are reversed, and the child has to care for their parent.
It can be challenging for your parent to accept the help, so try not to give unsolicited advice. Always let a neutral party offer the advice. Instead of giving out advice, consider offering them support and encouragement.
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At Assisting Hands, we believe in caring for others in a similar way we would want to be cared for. We have a nationwide team of skilled professionals dedicated to offering care. We offer non-medical and in-home care in an assisted living facility or a patient’s home 24/7. You can rely on us even if you require overnight care.
Call us or contact us today for any help you need with senior care. Visit our blog for more exciting articles about caregiving in Houston. Click here for the first issue of this article.
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