Listening is nothing short of a superpower, and it is even more meaningful for the parents in our lives, who often feel neglected and alone due to their progressive age and health complications. Physical health complications may render them completely bedridden; however, mental problems such as forgetfulness can further stray them away from the societal lens.
Elderly people are to be treated with compassion and sympathy, and when talking to them, it is necessary to be patient, respectful, attentive, and show your support as genuinely as possible. A good senior citizen day care has trained people to take care of your parents. But what should be your contribution? Here are the things you can do during a conversation with an elderly person or a senior family member.
- A fruitful conversation heavily depends on the ability to listen to each party in order to present an interesting opinion, and in the case involving senior individuals, listening to what they have to say must be of topmost priority for the person to feel comfortable.
- It is vital to be respectful in a conversation with our elders for them to feel validated.
- You must be patient on all accounts when speaking to a senior person, to speak their mind and express their thoughts. Due to their advanced age, these individuals may develop certain health problems that could affect their ability to speak coherently, remember things, and say things in coordination. Hence, patience is crucial during a conversation with senior personnel.
- To understand where they are coming from and connect on a deeper level, you will need to be emphatic enough to intently listen like stepping in their shoes.
In our busy lives with jobs, ambitions, and family plans, we barely get enough time to relax, let alone spare a few moments for an irrelevant conversation. And the burnt is borne by our close relationships including our elders. Nonetheless, with small efforts on a daily basis, the gaps can be bridged and our elders can find compassion and support.
We often notice our senior family members reclining in their space and mostly keeping to themselves as they feel disconnected from the present times. It is up to the family members to engage them in different conversations and try to keep them active for the betterment of their minds and health.
Here are a few ways to strike up an interesting conversation with an elderly person and keep them enthused.
- Try starting with familiar incidents that they have talked about in the past or about any event where you have been present. The fond memories of the past allow them to feel at ease and comfortably speak about the good times.
- Perhaps the best way to start a conversation with an elder is simply by asking them for advice on something. With their entire lives behind them, they are more than willing to offer their two cents on most things, having experienced living the same situations at some point in their lives.
- Talk about their life and times, their dreams and ambitions, work, and so many details of life that they may have forgotten until asked about.
- If you know of a few topics of interest, you can always start from those and see where the conversations lead on to. Whether it’s sports, politics, weather or art, anything they have a knack for can be brought up in a conversation.
Conclusion
Having a meaningful conversation with your elders can be refreshing as their ideas and experiences may give you rare insights into your own circumstances. While it is important to make small talks with senior members and keep them occupied, these conversations can be the memories you come to cherish later in life.
Find a good senior day care centre near you and discuss for more insightful advice!
