With the Easter long weekend kicking off this Friday, the LifeCare Mobility Solutions team wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone an amazing weekend! No matter what you have planned, we hope it involves the making of fond memories with family and friends. Given that the holiday will soon be upon us, we’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you about one of the most important and easiest-to-do tasks you can complete: being kind to the elderly.
Listen.
It’s just that simple. Older people matter just like everyone else. While they may exhibit some physical and mental limitations, it’s only right to give them the respect they deserve. When they’re speaking, be sure to listen. In fact, listening attentively is important when interacting with seniors as you may have difficulty making out some of the things they’re saying. A respectful listening ear is always necessary.
“When your loved one has something to share, make sure you are listening,” insists Home Care Matters, “In fact, lean in and maintain eye contact in order to let them know you are listening to every word they have to say. When the senior is done speaking, ask questions or make comments about what was said to let your loved one know that you were listening.”
Be understanding of their limitations.
It can be easy to lose your patience with an older adult. For many of them, it may be hard to hear what you’re saying. As well, they may have forgotten that you just told them something. Be patient, be respectful and be courteous. Recognize that vision, hearing and other physical impairments can hamper your experiences with older people. On WondermomWannabe.com, Kristi Finerock notes she always advises her kids that it’s important to be gracious.
“Let your kids know that some people may have a difficult time remembering conversations they have, even if the conversation happened only a few minutes ago,” she notes, “If you let your kids know in advance that this might happen, they won’t be caught off guard when it happens and will be more gracious with their responses.”
Respect their wisdom.
You can learn a lot from elderly people. Never forget that they’ve been around a lot longer than you have and have had experiences that you can learn from. Engage in conversations with your elderly loved ones and be sure to ask them questions about their experiences. The chats will go a long way in both assisting the older adults with recalling memories and growing your understanding of the world at large.
“You may be all grown up, but that does not mean you will not need or mother, father, or grandparent anymore,” says Home Care Matters, “Older adults actually want to be asked for their opinion as a way to make them feel important and as if you care what they have to say.”
And, of course, it always pays to make sure the seniors in your life are physically safe. If you have any questions about the mobility solutions and home healthcare products offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
