If you have an aging family member who needs in-home elder care, you may find yourself spending a lot of time with them, and caring for them in ways you never expected. Good communication is key to maintaining a healthy, compassionate relationship and ensuring their emotional and medical needs are being met.

5 Ways to Communicate Better With Your Loved One in Elder Care

1. Listen More

The best way to understand the needs of your loved one and provide compassionate elder care is to listen. When your loved one expresses frustration, understand that it may be about a situation and not you. Hear them out and try to meet the need they’re expressing.

2. Speak Clearly

If your loved one is losing their hearing, be sure to look at them when you talk, and speak clearly. You don’t need to shout, but making sure you’re enunciating. Taking your time when you converse will help them to understand you better. Avoid communicating important information among background noise that can make conversation difficult.

3. Avoid Unsolicited Advice

It can be tempting to tell your aging parent or family member how to handle medical, financial, or personal situations. Keep in mind that they still hold decision-making power in their life, unless an advanced medical condition has made this impossible. Try to avoid offering advice when none has been asked for so long as their safety is not being compromised.

4. Agree to Disagree

You might find yourself on opposite sides of a situation with a family member who needs elder care. Try to remember that you and your loved one both want the best outcome — your loved one’s health and happiness. Be comfortable with disagreeing, and try to do so in a respectful way that empowers them to continue talking to you about joint decisions.

5. Choose Empathy

Try to put yourself in the shoes of your family member. It can be difficult emotionally for an independent senior to accept help from a loved one or an elder care provider. Think about how you would like to be treated in the same situation and try to act accordingly.

A&T Certified Home Care in New York, NY, cares for your loved one like family. Their team of elder care specialists offer part-time and live-in senior home care for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or physical conditions that prevent them from living alone safely. They will help your loved one maintain a happy, independent lifestyle at home while enjoying the comforts that a home health aide can offer, like help with personal care and household tasks as well as physical and language therapy. To learn more, call (845) 708-8182 or send a message online today.