Listening is a skill that requires more than simply hearing. For medical providers and those who provide care for seniors, listening to those you care for is critical to their ongoing health and wellness. But as said before, listening is more than just hearing someone. It also takes following nonverbal cues to ensure that your aging loved one feels recognized and understood. The power that this provides is that it supports a more meaningful connection, empathy, and a nurturing setting. When senior citizens feel that they have been heard and understood, it builds a greater trust, and this foundation of trust can lead to a better care relationship.
Hearing is a physical act that only requires the use of one sense and is passive. Listening, on the other hand, is a voluntary and active process that takes the use of multiple senses. If you choose to listen instead of merely hear, you are actively engaging with the things that you are hearing. Here are some tips to ensure that you are listening and paying attention.
The first step to being a good listener is looking the other person in the eyes, preferably on their same eye level so that you are not above or below them. Eye contact will not only assure the other person that you’re paying attention, but enhance your understanding.
Be open minded and present. Avoid judging what the person is saying and thinking about what you may have done differently, and don’t let your mind wander away from the person you’re listening to and what they are trying to tell you.