Have you been getting irritated with your elderly loved one? Maybe you have been snippy with them because you didn’t really understand what they were saying. You might find yourself interrupting your elderly loved one because you think you know what they are going to say. If you find that you aren’t really listening to your elderly loved one, there are some ways that you can practice your listening skills. By doing this, you and your elderly loved one can communicate better with one another.
Sharing Stories May Not Be the Right Thing to Do
Have you been known to share your own stories when your elderly loved one talks about something that happened to them? You might think that you are just trying to connect to what they are saying. Maybe you are trying to show them that they aren’t alone. However, it may be best to just repeat the things that your elderly loved one has said. If you just talk about your own stories without your elderly loved one knowing you heard what they said, it could cause them to feel upset or unheard. The best thing you can do is to repeat the feelings and maybe parts of the story that your elderly loved one shared. This way, they know you heard them and you know you heard them correctly.
Trying to Cheer Them Up Could be Incorrect at the Time
Have you been trying to cheer your elderly loved one up when they are feeling down? Maybe you just want to see them happier, so you are trying to change the negative tone to a happier one. However, by doing this, your elderly loved one may be feeling as if their negative emotions don’t matter to you. They need to know that you will be there to listen to them talk about their sadness, depression, or anger. If you are constantly trying to change things to a more positive tone, your elderly loved one may not feel they can talk to you about things that are bothering them anymore.
Giving Advice or Solutions Might Not be What They Need
Have you been giving advice to your elderly loved one when they talk about something that is wrong in their life? Maybe you have been offering up solutions to the issues or obstacles that your elderly loved one is facing. If this is what you have been doing, you are probably just trying to help fix the problem. However, your elderly loved one may feel you are taking over. If they are just trying to talk about something out loud, let them do this. At the end of listening to them, you can ask are we trying to find solutions or just talking. This way, you know whether they want your help or not.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways that you can practice your listening skills when your elderly loved one is talking to you. If you can do these things, your elderly loved one may feel more heard and understood. This can improve the communication between you and your elderly loved one.
Sources
https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm