If you’re caring for a loved one who is cognitively impaired, this hour is for you. Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne this hour to talk about the listening and non-verbal side of communicating better.
We’re rushed, living hectic lives. When we walk into the room with our loved ones, are we empathetic, or just pretending to listen? With empathy, you’ll have more success with them doing what you need, like eating breakfast or going to the doctor.
Not interrupting, not finishing their sentences for them, goes a long way. You’re going to learn more about mom, a long of things you can still learn from them if you just listen. Their long-term memory is still intact.
Her advice: actually listen, don’t pretend to listen. Get over repetition. Don’t interrupt. Ask the right questions. Take inventory of your own weaknesses. Practice listening. Resist the impulse to correct errors. And don’t let yourself get offended.
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Learn more:
* Shawn Weiss
* Senior Health and Wellness website
Hear more podcasts about:
* Aging in place
* Dementia
Answers for Elders is part of the Senior Resource Network
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks
