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412-421-5202
May 18, 2021
Did you know that the way you talk about something can impact how the conversation goes? It may not be the topic, but the tone. If you are agitated, restless, or frustrated, your words will echo that emotional mindset. That can cause a person to immediately tune you out, put their guard up, or become defensive. When it comes to senior care conversations and topics, it is vital that we remember to remain calm and focus on how we present the conversation.
An aging parent or another elderly person in our family or circle of friends may not want to talk much about senior care, especially if they are already concerned about losing autonomy and independence.
After all, nobody wants to give up certain things in their life, especially their independence. Yet, when an aging senior has more difficulty with basic tasks of everyday life, that might be precisely what they feel is about to happen. So, if you are having a bad day, had an argument with your spouse or partner, got frustrated with something your teenage son or daughter was doing, or anything else like that, it’s probably not the best time to begin talking about Senior care topics.
The most effective way is in a calm and conversational style. Perhaps you can sit down with the senior and have a nice meal at their house. Start talking about the day, their activities, things they did, or maybe even things they used to do, but wish they could still continue pursuing.
When you find topics that are interesting to that senior, things they would love to still do, if they only had a little bit of help, that could be a great way to transition the topic toward senior care.
Understand this aging senior in your life may become defensive anyway, even if you have a nice, calm tone about your voice and your mannerisms are easy-going.
The worst thing anyone could do when trying to convince an aging parent or other loved one to at least think about senior care is to react negatively to hostility, belligerence, or negative reactions about the topic.
If your aging father, for example, begins insulting you, saying you don’t care about him, you just want to pass them off to somebody else, don’t take that personally. This is a defensive reaction on his part.
Whether he means it or not doesn’t matter. You know your father, or the senior in your life, best. You know how this person is going to respond, and even if they have a tendency to get personal with certain things, don’t take it personally. Not about this topic.
As long as you remain calm and rational, understand the benefits senior care can provide, and can counter any arguments with pointed questions that get him thinking, you win every time, even if they don’t consider it at this stage in their life.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Sewickley, PA, please contact the caring staff at In-Home Quality Care today. Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area since 1990! Call 412-421-5202