5 Ways to Optimize Communication with an Elderly Stranger
Posted: Sunday, August 02, 2009
by K Soash
Writing For You Now
Have you ever turned to an elderly person just to be friendly and say Hi' then next thing you know you're engaged in a one sided conversation? Sometimes when you meet an elderly person you may feel bad or guilty as you walk away because you just don't know what to say. That is because most of the time when we accidentally meet an elderly person, they just want someone to talk to or someone to listen to them. Following are five helpful ways to help alleviate that bad feeling or guilt.
1. Be genuinely interested in what that person is saying. Yes, it may sound boring to you and maybe you could care less. But at least for a moment, pretend that you do care and before you know it you will be engaged in a decent conversation.
2. Be a good listener. No, this doesn't mean you have to do reflective listening, it means that you acknowledge the other person speaking and you give that person your undivided attention. It's only for a short moment.
3. Don't give that glazed-over look. The kind that tells the other person non-verbally that you just don't care. Be aware of what you are doing with your eyes, and by all means, never roll your eyes while talking to an elderly person. Actions speak louder than words. Nod and smile.
4. Make an attempt to add your parts and pieces to the information the other person is relaying, for example, if that person is taking about their car, then talk about yours too. If they are talking about their pet, talk about yours too.
5. Never express your opinions regarding sex, religion, or politics. These elderly members of society have been around a while and have seen a lot. Never go head-to-head with any of these topics, if an argument ensues, you will never win.
Remember that these conversations are temporary and short lived, so be respectful and give that elderly person a few minutes of your time. You never know where that could lead. You'll be surprised how good you'll feel if you follow these five simple ways of communicating with an elderly stranger.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hi Krystalina. Thank you for a very insightful article. It is clear and concise and tells you exactly what to do. I love talking or listening to elderly strangers, they have more wisdom than I do. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck. ~Nenita~Please log in to respond to this comment.You're a sweetie Nenita,Thank you for your feedback. I most certainly agree with you that elderly have much more wisdom than we do and I appreciate them.Also thank you for your feedback that lead me to re-read my article and edit my subheading. The title says "5 Ways..." and the subheading said "6 Ways...". So I've fixed that inconsistency. The original was '6 Ways' but I dropped a point which I concluded was a repeat.Thank you again and along the way... I also appreciate you.~Krystalina~Please log in to respond to this comment.
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