Do You Listen Well?

One of the best skills for a caregiver to develop is listening! As someone once quoted to me, God gave me two ears and one mouth. Sometimes it's difficult to listen, especially if we believe we know better. But out of respect and dignity of our aging seniors, let's assume they can speak for themselves. Most aging seniors really do know what they want and what?s best for them.

It's taken me several years to learn to listen well. And in the meantime; bite your tongue! Here are some guidelines that are helpful. These guidelines are derived from Texas Legal Services Center.

Considerate versus Inconsiderate

Inconsiderate listening includes daydreaming, discounting, jumping to conclusions, interrupting and ignoring.

Considerate which is where we all want to be takes a bit more effort. These skills include; paying attention, not judging, eye contact, don't finish sentences, and separating content from personality.

The speaker senses if you are listening by the amount of information she/he discloses. If you ask questions, it's a sign you are listening.