Follow these tips for productive communication with the elder in your care:
• Show respect
• Watch your phraseology, avoiding phrases such as “You never…” or “You always…”
• Listen to her feelings and find the meaning behind her words
• Honor the legacy he’s trying to define for himself, allowing him to preserve his dignity by accepting that he has a right not to be perfect, to do things in a way you might consider wrong, and to display his independence
• Say things in a way that won’t indicate you doubt competence
• Reassure without being condescending
• Recognize fears and approach fear-inspiring issues with a positive approach
• Negotiate and try to compromise when agreement is resisted
More Info
How do you get positive results when dealing with an elderly parent who always says no? Click here to find out.
Check out the Fannie Mae Web site for an Elderkit that helps caregivers organize medical, financial, legal and caregiving information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright ©2007 Caring Today, LLC. As originally appeared on www.caringtoday.com and/or in Caring Today magazine. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
