Tips for Communicating Better with Your Senior Loved One

Are you caring for your senior loved one? It can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can be a fulfilling experience for both of you. Even though your loved one may be experiencing reduced cognitive abilities, health problems, or have differing opinions that make communication difficult, there are strategies you can use to improve your dynamic.

Strategies for Smoother Conversations 

By using the following strategies, you’ll be working your way towards having effective communication in your relationship in no time. 

Choose the Right Environment

Choose the right environment for having important conversations with your parent. Avoid having conversations in a distracting or over stimulating environment that could cause them to feel uncomfortable. Consider any vision or hearing obstacles they may have. You want your parent to feel at ease and be able to see and hear you clearly. 

Put Yourself in Their Shoes 

Aging can be tough when facing things like losing independence, having health problems, or experiencing the loss of friends and family members. Keep in mind that your parent could be dealing with depression or anxiety as a result of these life events, which may make them behave differently. Have grace and compassion during those moments. 

Listen

Your family member may speak slowly or take a while to express their thoughts. Be sure to have patience and don’t talk over them. If there’s a pause in the conversation, it could be that they’re absorbing the information being discussed. Give them time to gather their thoughts and offer your full attention. 

Avoid Giving Unsolicited Advice

Many times as we age, a parent-child role reversal takes place that can be difficult for the senior parent to accept. If they share something important with you, provide them with encouragement, but don’t give advice unless they request it. 

Don't Talk Down to Them 

It’s crucial to avoid speaking to your loved one in a condescending manner. Even if your parent has dementia or another memory-related illness, they don’t want to be patronized. Seniors need to feel like they are still competent adults whose thoughts and feelings matter. Avoid shouting or dumbing down your words when talking to them. 

Maintain a Sense of Humor

You can always find something to laugh about - even in stressful situations. It’s good to seek out moments of levity and share in laughter with your elderly parent. Humor can make navigating tough times much easier for you both. 

Visiting Angels Can Help 

Caring for a senior parent can be a rewarding, yet exhausting experience for someone. If you’re in need of a break or additional support meeting your loved one’s needs, Visiting Angels of Northern Central Indiana can help. Our caregivers are able to provide help with hygiene, medication monitoring, errand running, light housekeeping, transportation, and much more. We also offer a flexible respite care program that ensures your parent is being thoughtfully tended to while you temporarily step away from caregiving duties. 

For more information about our home care service options, feel free to reach out to us via our online contact form or by giving us a call at 765-670-6260.