Seven Tips to Stay Away from “Talking Down” to Seniors
Home care assistance can help family caregivers communicate better with their senior loved ones.
Respectful communication is vital when helping aging adults, but it can be all too easy for people to unintentionally talk down to them. When this happens, seniors are likely to feel frustrated, resentful, and angry. They may also feel disrespected, even if the person didn’t mean anything bad. Home care assistance can model respectful communication with aging adults, helping family members avoid slipping into bad habits.
Listen to Words and Tone
The tone of voice is the main factor in feeling as if someone is talking down to seniors or condescending. Very often, people start to speak slower or use a high-pitched tone, similar to how people might speak to a baby or a small child. The message with this tone is often that seniors can’t make decisions for themselves, which isn’t accurate at all.
Treat Seniors as Equals
Seniors have lived a long time and acquired a lot of knowledge and wisdom. It’s important for people who talk with them and who help them to remember that they’re equals. Regardless of any health issues or challenges, treating seniors as any other adult is so important for promoting mutual respect and dignity.
Avoid Infantilizing Language
Another pitfall to avoid is using infantilizing language or language that implies seniors are childlike in some way. Often, this means using pet names, like “sweetie,” instead of the senior’s name or title. This might seem harmless, but it has a significant emotional impact on aging adults.
Practice Active Listening
Active listening is a big part of respectful communication. This involves rephrasing when necessary, maintaining eye contact, and responding thoughtfully. When seniors need extra time to respond, they need that time without interruption so they can finish their thoughts.
Home care assistance providers can model active listening, showing family members how it can make a difference in communication.
Encourage Independence
Seniors tend to choose to age in place because they want to maintain their independence for as long as possible. There is so much that they can still do, even if they need some help along the way. In terms of communication, this means letting seniors make decisions for themselves and giving them the space to express themselves authentically.
Pay Attention to Nonverbal Cues
Nonverbal cues can be as crucial as what seniors say. Facial expressions, body language, and gestures are all forms of communication. When seniors feel as if someone is bored listening to them or frustrated, they’re more likely to stop communicating.
Rely on Home Care Assistance for Support
Home care assistance providers are an excellent resource for anyone who wants to communicate well with aging adults. They can share what they’ve learned and help bridge communication gaps that might arise. Home care assistance aims to help seniors get what they need with respect and dignity.
Talking with seniors doesn’t have to feel awkward, and it should always be done respectfully without making them feel as if everyone around them is talking down to them. Home care assistance offers support with daily tasks, including effective communication.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Highland Park, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 948-0860. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette, and the surrounding areas.
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