Tips for communicating with seniors
Seniors crave social connection as much as the rest of us. Unfortunately, sometimes they are less able to verbalize their feelings as well as they used to or are self-conscious about slower speech or reduced memory. Some extra effort may be needed to strike up a conversation with them.
It’s important to try not to treat them differently. Realize that they have had rich experiences, which you can tap into and learn from during your time with them. Your honest and loving curiosity about their lives will both help to trigger memories for them as well as provide a natural path for conversation. Reminiscing can provide a method of engaging with seniors who have different levels of impairment.
Questions to Spark a Conversation If conversations don’t seem to flow naturally, here are some questions that might help:
| 1. Who influenced your life the most? | 6. What is the happiest moment of your life? |
| 2. What is your proudest accomplishment? | 7. Did you travel when you were younger? Where was your favorite vacation? |
| 3. What is your earliest memory | 8. What was school like for you as a child? What were your favorite and least favorite subjects? |
| 4. Who were your friends when you were growning up? | 9. What do you wish you’d done that you didn’t? |
| 5. Did you have a pet? | 10. What was your favorite hobby? |