Communicating with the person you are caring for is not always easy. Asking your family member or friend how they’re feeling today or what they might need you to do for them, rather than just doing what you think they need, can go a long way in showing that you value their autonomy. It’ll also enhance your effectiveness in providing appropriate and compassionate care. When there has been a history of “bad blood” and it cannot be resolved through your own efforts or with professional help, it may be necessary to look at alternate caregiving arrangements.
Communicating with someone who has a dementia or who has had a stroke can be particularly difficult because of speech and/or language impairments that are part of the illness or condition. The Alzheimer Society is an excellent source for tips and strategies on communicating with someone who has a dementia. The Heart and Stroke Foundation also has information on helping stroke survivors with aphasia improve communication. The York/Durham Aphasia Centre is another good resource for information and services.
Communication involves not just verbal and non-verbal messages, but also information processing – that is, listening and understanding.
Listen with an open mind. This is the heart of good communication. Respect the opinions of others that differ from your own. It will deepen the depth of your caring since it will give you a stronger view of your family member or friend’s feelings and perspectives. It may also reveal new solutions to problems that you thought were unsolvable. Sometimes the solution to the problem is right under our nose – we just have to look, listen and learn.
Some listening strategies that you can use with your family member or friend are: