You might be wondering why good communication with your elderly loved one is so important. Your loved one needs to communicate their hunger and thirst needs, medical needs, feelings, and so much more. If they aren’t able to do that as well as they used to, it is important that you are able to properly communicate with them to help figure these things out. The good news is that there are some tips to help you communicate much better with your elderly loved one.

Listen Fully

One of the best things that you can do to communicate with your elderly loved one is to listen fully. If your elderly loved one has trouble communicating, you will need to listen to what they are saying, so you can understand their needs. Make sure you are patient with them and pay attention to all the details of what they are saying. It might take more time than it used to for your loved one to have a conversation with you. However, as long as you are listening fully and watching your body language, you can keep the communication pathways open between the two of you.

Understanding

Sometimes, it can be tough to understand what your elderly loved one is saying. However, when you can truly understand your loved one and comprehend what they are telling you, the situation can go over much smoother. In order to fully understand, you will need to be patient and pay attention to everything your elderly loved one tells you.

Asking the Right Questions

Another way that you can improve the communication between you and your elderly loved one is by asking the right questions. Sometimes, your elderly loved one might not be clear on what they need or want. If you are asking them the right questions, they can answer those questions and help you to understand their needs and wants.

Reiterating

Finally, you should reiterate what your elderly loved one has said to you. Summarize what they said, so that you can confirm you fully understood what they were talking about. In addition, reiterating what your loved one has said can ensure that there isn’t any miscommunication.

There are many aspects of caring for an elderly loved one. Communication is one of the things that matter the most.

If you use these tips, you can have been conversations with your elderly loved one and understand their needs and wants much better, as well.

Sources
https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/10-tips-nurses-effectively-communicate-elderly-patients/

If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Woodbury, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.