|
"Every good conversation starts with good listening." Sometimes talking to a loved one is effortless and time runs out before all of the news is shared. But at other times, conversing is difficult, with long pauses or inattention. What can we do to have great conversations with the people we love?
Give them our full attention. Put away the cell phone, don't check your watch, sit where you can see and hear well. Choose a quiet place to be together. Don't interrupt, even if someone seems to be searching for a word. Interruptions often change the subject entirely, leaving the speaker feeling unfinished or unheard. Don't jump around. Keep your topics as still as your body and mind. Jumping from one subject to another can be confusing. Important details can get lost in a tangle of subjects. Accept differences of opinion. Even people who love one another will not agree on everything. If an opinion is expressed that riles you, it's still good practice to keep listening. Everyone might learn something. You can add relevant information, but there is no need to "win" an argument. Choose interesting topics. Ask people about their past, their achievements and what they think about the present. Talk about changes during their lifetime, such as technology or manners. Share your thoughts and memories when appropriate, but encourage your loved one to do the talking. Many seniors spend a great deal of time alone or watching television. A shared conversation can be great medicine and brighten days. The memory of the conversation will enrich later hours, as well. Prairie Homestead yvonne@prairiehomestead.org prairiehomestead.org 1605 W. May Street Wichita KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 Don't miss our open house! | Prairie Homestead Senior Living | Best independent living in Wichita6/22/2022  Some people make "bucket lists" of things that they want to accomplish in their lives. Others dream of all the places that they intend to travel. But in lives where travel is complicated and much has already been accomplished, people still have wish lists. What do senior adults have on their lists?
• Independence. Seniors want to do as much for themselves as possible, for as long as possible. • Activity. Modern senior adults are not just sitting in rocking chairs watching the world go by. They want to stay active to the best of their abilities, physically and mentally. Having a variety of activities is even more stimulating. • Relationships. Having lost friends and family members, and perhaps moving to a new residence, older adults still want community. Whether the friendships result from shared interests or from pursuing something new together, they want something deeper than a hello in the hallway. • Respect. No one wants to be treated like a child. There are ways to give help and encouragement without being demeaning. Even those who need the most assistance, want to be treated as if they have value. Throughout life, people have goals and desires. Though times change and circumstances vary, senior adults want just what everyone else wants: to feel cared for, useful, and appreciated. Prairie Homestead yvonne@prairiehomestead.org prairiehomestead.org 1605 W. May Street Wichita KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 Our language is always changing. But some of the new words we hear on television or from younger relatives sound as if they're from another country… or planet! We might not need these new words in our daily conversations, but they can still inform or delight us.
• Amirite. Believe it or not, this foreign-looking word is just a contraction of "Am I right?" If you haven't seen it in print yet, you will see it soon. • Super-spreader is a word that came from the COVID-19 pandemic. It means an event where many people gather which could result in the spread of a contagious condition. • Air-fryer is one of the new, must-have kitchen gadgets. Convection currents are circulated by a fan to speed the cooking of food. • Dad-bod. Pretty much as it sounds, it's a description of someone slightly overweight and out-of-shape. • Sofa surfer. It used to be called a "couch potato," but still refers to anyone who sits around a lot or watches television. • To photo bomb is when someone, like your cute niece, jumps in front of a camera just as aposed picture is being snapped. Sometimes this produces a surprisingly funny shot. We're never too old to learn something new each day. Even the standard dictionaries add new words each year. Prairie Homestead yvonne@prairiehomestead.org prairiehomestead.org 1605 W. May Street Wichita KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 Good news, bad news, silly news: you can find it all online these days. Social media sites like Facebook give people the opportunity to show pictures of their latest island vacation, tell about their appendectomy, or just share a joke with friends. What did we ever do before Facebook?
Read the newspaper. Very early American city newspapers had social columns, where correspondents from smaller communities could report on the latest parties or crop successes. The weight of a baby, the gifts received by bride and groom, even the details of deaths were shared. Wrote round-robins. When a stamp cost a penny or two, people wrote letters, and some used the system of a "round-robin." The first writer would share his news and send it to the next person, who would add what was happening in her life and send it on to another one. In this way, a larger group could be informed of all the news. At the end of the line, the last person sent it back to the first, and the communicating started all over again. Talked over coffee. Homemakers (primarily women) could feel isolated, so many started Coffee Klatches to share news and refreshments. At the office, workers gathered around the water cooler or in the break room to tell what was happening at home or during business hours. Listened on the phone. Beginning in 1878, subscribers to telephone service could save money by sharing a line with other households. (During the world wars, all lines were "party lines.") By listening on their home phone, people could eavesdrop on other conversations and learn things they might not otherwise know. Internet, email, cell phones, smart phones, Twitter. People communicate in new and amazing ways in each generation. Times and technology change, but the news still gets around. Prairie Homestead yvonne@prairiehomestead.org prairiehomestead.org 1605 W. May Street Wichita KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 Here is an up to date resource to help protect the elderly from online scams.
You can see it here: https://www.ireviews.com/online-scams/  "Every good conversation starts with good listening." Sometimes talking to a loved one is effortless and time runs out before all of the news is shared. But at other times, conversing is difficult, with long pauses or inattention. What can we do to have great conversations with the people we love?
Give them our full attention. Put away the cell phone, don't check your watch, sit where you can see and hear well. Choose a quiet place to be together. Don't interrupt, even if someone seems to be searching for a word. Interruptions often change the subject entirely, leaving the speaker feeling unfinished or unheard. Don't jump around. Keep your topics as still as your body and mind. Jumping from one subject to another can be confusing. Important details can get lost in a tangle of subjects. Accept differences of opinion. Even people who love one another will not agree on everything. If an opinion is expressed that riles you, it's still good practice to keep listening. Everyone might learn something. You can add relevant information, but there is no need to "win" an argument. Choose interesting topics. Ask people about their past, their achievements and what they think about the present. Talk about changes during their lifetime, such as technology or manners. Share your thoughts and memories when appropriate, but encourage your loved one to do the talking. Many seniors spend a great deal of time alone or watching television. A shared conversation can be great medicine and brighten days. The memory of the conversation will enrich later hours, as well. Prairie Homestead yvonne@prairiehomestead.org prairiehomestead.org 1605 W. May Street Wichita KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 |
RSS Feed
|
Prairie Homestead Senior Living
1605 W May St Wichita, KS 67213 (316) 263-8264 Senior Living in Wichita, Kansas Independent Living in Wichita, Kansas Assisted Living in Wichita, Kansas 
|
Follow Us Online!
|
All Rights Reserved | Site powered by Janzen Marketing LLC