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Do You Know How To Listen?
One of
the most important things you can do for a caregiver or someone who is
seriously ill
is to
listen. Listening and talking helps to relieve stress; not doing so can
increase anxiety. We communicate many ways - with our body language and
facial expression, in the tone of voice used and in what we say.
A part of active listening is
silence. Silence can seem uncomfortable, but it can mean
respect, understanding and concern.
Every statement does not need a comment or a
solution, silence allows the person time
to reflect.
Your body language plays a large part
in communication. Posture, actions, facial expressions are all important
and constantly send messages. By facing the person you
are saying “I’m listening”. Leaning
toward the person shows interest. It is good to maintain eye contact.
Being relaxed shows your comfort level and helps make the other person
more comfortable. Try to use body language that shows your acceptance
rather than judging or being critical.
Just as you send messages with your
posture, so does the person you are communicating
with. Try to tune into messages a person
is sending by actions or tone of voice. These
non-verbal cues might mean the opposite
to what the person is saying.
You can use words to encourage
talking, such as “um hum”, “I understand”, “I’d like to hear more about
that”, or just nod your head or repeat the last words said. It may be
important to clarify the meaning of what was said. You can help the
person by saying such things as “you mean...?”, “I hear you saying...?”,
“Help me understand. You’re saying...?”. Ask open-ended questions that
can’t be answered with “yes”, “no” or one word.
Acknowledging a person’s
feelings can help to build trust and open communication. You
can encourage a
person to talk about their feelings by saying, “It sounds like you’re
feeling...” or “It must be difficult for you to feel...”. You don’t have
to have solutions, give
advice or false
reassurance. It is important to just be there and listen.
Caregiver Meetings:
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