Being Heard
This session focuses on communication. It starts with an exploration of the foundation of communication – empathy, and then provides practical strategies for communication with a person experiencing a memory loss disorder. There are also concrete suggestions for how to get more help from family members who may be reluctant to get involved. Upon completion of this module, caregivers will take away a variety of communication strategies to use at home and with family and friends.
Resources
These links are being provided for informational purposes only. The websites are maintained by their respective owners, and the Optimal Aging Center bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of these external sites. Contact the external sites for answers to questions regarding their content.
Empathy
Offered by the National Council on Aging, this article offers some tips and strategies on developing empathy as a caregiver.
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Article: The Three Kinds of Empathy: Emotional, Cognitive, Compassionate
An excellent article that explains the difference between three different types of empathy.
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Article: How to be more empathetic
A short article by WebMD discussing various tips on how to be more empathetic.
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Article: How to Be More Empathetic
A good article from VeryWellMind that explores what is empathy and how to develop more of it.
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Communication and Memory Loss
An excellent article which contains a video discussing various communication methods and strategies.
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Article: Communication and Alzheimer’s
Offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, this article sorts their strategies by progression stage of the disease.
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Article: Cognitive communication difficulties
This article explains the types of problems you may run into sorted by types of communication difficulties.
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PDF: Do’s and Don’ts of communication and dementia
This PDF by the Alzheimer’s San Diego has great examples to illustrate the strategies offered.
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Family Communication - Asking for Help
Video: Caregiver Car Chronicles #3: Asking for Help
This is the third in a series of short videos called the Caregiver Car Chronicles. These video are only a minute or two long and great for a quick summary of the important facts.
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Video: What to Say When Asking for Help With Caregiving Costs
Offered by the AARP Caregiving Resource Center, this short video offers practical tips on keeping the lines of communication open, minimizing potential problems, and dealing with conflict and disagreement when you are caring for a loved one as a family.
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Family Communications - Family Conflict
From A Place for Mom, this article discusses various types of family conflict, offering possible solutions.
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Video: Caregiving and Family Conflict
Offered by the AARP Caregiving Resource Center, this short video offers practical tips on keeping the lines of communication open, minimizing potential problems, and dealing with conflict and disagreement when you are caring for a loved one as a family.
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Video: How to Ask for Help! Dementia Caregivers need these 3 A’s
This 7 min video discusses the 3 A’s to asking for help.
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Booklet: The 50-50 Rule: Helping Siblings Overcome Family Conflict While Caring for Aging Parents
Created by Home Instead this 26 page booklet covers topics to help adult siblings and their aging parents deal with those sensitive situations that arise among brothers and sisters as their parents age and need assistance.
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