Empowered Senior Living Solutions

Empathy, the skill that helps you CONNECT with people on a deeper, more intimate level. A skill that not everyone has, but that can be learned. Here are 3 ways to infuse a little more empathy into your next conversations! 1)Mirror people: I remember learning this back when I was GREEN. My boss said at a happy hour for our residents and guests-if your guest grabs food, you grab food. If they sit down, you sit down...mirroring their actions help them to feel more comfortable. 2) Eye contact: This crucial skill is important for displaying many things, including honesty and that we are INTERESTED in them. Have you ever been in a conversation where your friend is constantly looking around? It feels like they aren't really "IN" your conversation. 3) Leaning in: When we lean in, it subtlety communicates that we CARE what they have to say, it also communicates, "Your important." What do you think of these tips? Do they come naturally for you? Or are you struggling to learn them? #seniorhousing #SeniorLiving #seniorlivingsales #seniorhousingsales #sales #salestips #communicationtips #learningempathy #empathy #supportingagingadults #agingandchange #agingadults #connection #conversationsthatconnect #calaisseniorconsult

It is SO easy when someone is struggling with a decision, for us to jump in with our agenda to provide solutions. It's human nature to act this way. But we help you learn to communicate differently. Instead of starting a conversation focused on your solutions to their problems. We begin our conversation by focusing on their goals. Now this might seem like a simple switch, and it is! But it's hard to do in the moment, as we all want to jump into the "expert" role to help someone struggling with decisions. So next time you want to focus the conversation with a senior citizen about your agenda and your solutions. Take a step back, and mentally focus on their goals. Now when you start the conversation, you will naturally get more engagement AND more problem solving from them! It all begins with changing our focus. #seniorliving #seniorhousing #assistedliving #memorycare #agingparents #agingadults #caringforparents #seniorcitizens #navigatingchange

Most of us aren't comfortable with ambivalence. We, as adults have in fact, many opinions, and we often think we know whats best for aging parents. So when we hear a loved one share a glimmer of consideration of change, we pounce on sharing our insight. Which causes defensiveness and resistance. Which is why we have to get comfortable with ambivalence. My training is in Motivational Interviewing, a behavior change method of communication. And the more we get comfortable with ambivalence and exploring ambivalence, the better we can help be an assertive guide towards change. Seniors start to age and have age related changes, they often contemplate their options. Part of them wants more support, another side of them doesn't want to "cave to getting older". When we focus on hearing both sides of their ambivalence, we create a safe space to explore change with them. Once we explore both sides of change, THEN we can start working towards their hopes and goals. But we still want to be assertive, which means evoking THEIR next steps. Which can sound like... "You've talked about X and Y being an option. But something just doesn't feel like. What can you do as a next step to give you more confidence in your options?" Let's use our communication skills to improve our conversations about aging and change. #seniorliving #seniorhousing #adultcaregivers #AssistedLiving #memorycare #retirementcommunity #agingparents #agingparentsistough #agingparentsupport #agingparentsplanning

Whether you are a family caregiver, or a professional helper, learning to infuse more intentional communication strategies is helpful in creating a collaborative conversation with a Senior Citizen about change. We cannot control other people. That is a fact. However, different communication strategies help us to connect easier, to open UP conversations about change easier, and help us facilitate change conversations easier. One of those tips is ensuring we are communicating that we support someones autonomy. This simple sentence in a conversation can breed trust, engagement and openness to discuss change further. Think about it. Imagine every time you talked to someone (a co-worker, friend, professional helper) they were trying to convince you of something. It's exhausting! But, what if, instead of convincing you, they reminded you that you are in control. You'd likely feel more connected to this person, you'd feel more heard. And lastly, you'd probably be more OPEN to talking about change with them, since they know you are in control. This is why I'm passionate about changing the way we talk with seniors about change. Creating more empowered and engaged conversations that leave seniors feeling confidence and clarity in their ability to make decisions! It becomes a win for everyone! Seniors feel more satisfied with the change process. Adult children/professional helpers feel more connected and are seen as a resource or guide to change. How do you support autonomy in conversations? #seniorliving #seniorhousing #training #salestraining #salestips #assistedliving #memorycare

It's been awhile since I've talked about empowerment, which is at the crux of what we teach in Motivational Interviewing. The whole goal of Motivational Interviewing is helping people align their values with their behavior, helping them to make confident, clear decisions about change. How do we help seniors to feel EMPOWERED in the change process? Here are a few ways we can cultivate a conversation filled with empowerment. 1) Listen, remember to WAIT (Why am I talking?) 2)Support their autonomy (reminding them they are in the drivers seat, they get to choose their next steps) 3) Recognize their strengths and abilities, this builds confidence and connection 4) Summarize what you've heard 5) Evoke their ideas for next steps 6) Affirmations: like how their values align with their behavior (big difference between what we all seem to consider an affirmation, vs. what we teach is an affirmation) How do you empower? #motivationalinterviewing #seniorliving #seniorhousing #sales #training #communication #assistedliving

Questions are a great tool to get to know someone, they show we are interested in them and that we care to learn about them. But did you know deep down, that questions also show that we don't understand them? Think about it. If you are talking with a friend about a recent career choice you made, and your friend asks you, "What made you choose this job over that?" It's a great question, but one that subconsciously communicates, "I don't understand you. But I'm trying to!" Which is why I'm SUCH an advocate for training and teaching people how to infuse more reflective statements into their conversations. To do this, we have to also train and teach empathy, helping people to understand the world through anothers eyes. I love reflective statements because they communicate, "I understand you." They leave the speaker feeling heard and understood. There is a sense of closeness one feels when someone "gets" them. Which is why I'm passionate about training this in the Senior living industry, in a world where many senior citizens feel alone, tossed aside and disconnected, what if through communication we can help them feel heard and understood? Can you imagine how that might improve their outlook? How it might improve their mental state? Can you imagine how it might improve outcomes not only for Senior Citizens, but for your community? Communication that connects is my jam-so if you want to learn more, make sure to connect with me! Comment or send me a message, would love to chat more! hashtag #seniorhousing hashtag #seniorliving hashtag #assistedliving hashtag #memorycare hashtag #seniorlivingsales hashtag #sales

How often do we as family members or professional helpers, think we know what's best for someone? It's an easy trap to fall into, and one that can naturally increase resistance to change. So instead of starting the conversation with something like, "I've been thinking, and it's time to do X." Start the conversation by sharing your intention to help and support. This can sound like... 1) "I'm here to help you find the right solutions for you." 2) "My goal is to help support you, in whatever way I can, as you continue to age." 3)"You are the expert in your life and how you want to live it, I'm just here to try and help you think of different perspectives as you plan for the future." 4) "I'm here because I care, I want to help you thrive as you age, in whatever way I can." When we start by verbalizing how we want to support them, as we continue exploring their thoughts and feelings on change, the weight of these words will linger in their minds. And if you start to notice some tension, state you're WHY, your intention to help, AGAIN. This will remind them and you-as to why your choosing to have this (sometimes challenging) conversation about change. #seniorliving #seniorhousing #aging #adultchildren #assistedliving #caringforseniorcitizens #agingandchange #changeconversations

This simple communication tip is on my mind from a recent trip to a Senior living community. The power of summarizing has many benefits both for the person speaking and the person listening. When we summarize we... -help the person talking feel HEARD -ensure we are hearing what they are communicating -have an opportunity to excavate the unsaid, bringing greater clarity to both parties As I toured a senior living community, I longed for the sales person to articulate next steps, but instead she waited. Until finally my mother in law had to directly ask, "Do we pay you $ now?" Imagine if throughout the tour she summarized our conversations, like in the examples below. "So your father is in CA, and your looking to move him up here, and you've showed up here to see if we are a fit." "Your family really liked the available studio on our second floor, it's something you're thinking about moving forward with." "As we've walked and talked, you've shared how fun it would be for your family to come dine in the private dining room, you're here to figure out what your next steps look like." This simple summaries would put our minds to rest-"she gets us", or "she knows we want to move forward today". Again, these simple communication tips help us to create more connection than disconnection. To communicate with more clarity and understanding, for both parties. #seniorliving #seniorhousing #retirementcommunity #assistedliving #memorycare #seniorhousingsales #salestips

Senior Housing professionals-if you want regular reminders and tips, make sure to join my group over on FB! https://lnkd.in/gASNMYWd I was just sharing a tip recently from my recent tour of a place for my grandfather in law! I'm sharing regular tips and reminders for Senior Living Sales professionals, so come on over and join the discussion!

Shared this reminder with a Senior Living team this week as a reminder, when you encounter resistance to change.... SLOW down and listen. Try empathy to see the world through their eyes. When we lean into silence, choosing our next words carefully to be focused on empathy, we have a chance to gain a moment of connection. Which can jumpstart a deeper conversation, a more real conversation about what they perceive as their reality and their struggles. So remember, as we talk about aging and change, to LISTEN. Lean into silence, try empathy next. #seniorliving #seniorhousing #assistedliving #memorycare #retirementcommunities #seniorlivingsales #sales