Loneliness and isolation are closely associated to seniors’ mortality. In Singapore, more than 20% of the elderly living alone are in danger of depression and other psychological health problems. Between 2007 to 2011, at least 50 elderly people have been found dead alone in their own homes according to Straight Times.
Since facts don’t lie, we would like to give emphasis on having a good communication with our loved ones. We would also like to suggest several techniques for caregivers who wants to have a good chit chat with their elderly patients!
Eden Grace is here to suggest ways to achieve a successful communication which is crucial for the elderly’s physical and emotional improvement.
How to communicate with seniors:
1. Be patient
The seniors’ physical challenges prohibit them from speaking in our speed and comprehending our words easily. A good caregiver needs a long patience to hold a conversation with an elderly.
– Don’t give up! Get a minute or two and imagine yourself in the elderly’s situation.
– It’s effective to develop empathy to the older people first before trying to engage in a conversation.
– Sometimes, we get “No, I don’t want to talk to you” or simply nothing as a response. We urge caregivers to stay calm and take a time out, then come back again later.
2. Don’t sound demanding
Nobody likes to be bossed around especially, by someone who is younger than them. Our loved one also wants to feel respected and relevant! Asking him questions will make him feel respected and offering options gives him a sense of control despite his age.
– When it comes to his meal time or exercise time, we better ask instead of ordering him around. For example, “Would you like to do your exercise this morning?” instead of “You’re having your exercise this morning.”
– Caregivers can also offer options: “Would you like to have soup or salad for lunch today?” instead of insisting a certain menu that the senior doesn’t like.
3. Avoid the bossy language
Psychology Today says that when the elderly is bossed around in a regular basis, they are more likely to fight, flight, or freeze and this leads to behavioral problems such as argument, avoidance, or stonewalling.
– The best thing to do is using an inclusive ‘we’ instead of using the ‘you language’. E.g. We need to go to the doctor, okay?
– Encouraging him using ‘let’s’ is also effective. E.g. Let’s do your morning exercise.
– Emphasizing the importance of an activity will also give the elderly an understanding why such activity needs to be carried out. E.g. Taking this pill will take away the dizziness.
4. Ask before doing
Do we want to turn off the light in the room? Do we need to get his cup of tea? Caregivers better ask before making a move. Instead of making assumptions, we must first find out if the senior agrees with our decision. As long as his requests are harmless, why insist our way? We suggest caregivers to be sensitive with their patient’s wants and needs.
With these tips, we hope you can establish good communication with your loved ones!