Effective Communication Skills for Caregivers
Create a Better Life by Improving Interpersonal Communication
Dec 19, 2008
Caregiving by its nature involves an interdependence among people. Caregivers need other people if they are to get their needs met. Without effective interpersonal communication, life as a caregiver can be much more difficult than it has to be. But there is hope. Communication can be improved at any time.
Effective communication involves:
- dealing with feelings,
- active listening,
- assertive communication, and
- acceptance.
Facts About Feelings and Effective Communication Skills
Understanding the function of feelings is the first step in in being able to communicate effectively.
- Feelings give us energy to solve problems.
- Feelings that are suppressed don’t go away, they simply remain unexpressed.
- Suppressed feelings may cause sickness.
- All healthy people experience all human emotions, including the “negative” ones.
- People will not be judged on their feelings, just their actions.
- Feelings speak in “code” and sometimes require interpretation.
Facts About Listening and Effective Communication Skills
In effective communication, learning to be a good listener is just as important as speaking.
- Caregivers should listen to themselves. They should pay attention to their feelings rather than suppress, argue with, or deny them.
- Caregivers should listen to their family members. They should pay attention to the other’s feelings and not argue with, judge, fix, or try to talk the person out of their feelings.
- Good listeners offer suggestions only when the other person seems open to suggestions.
- Good listeners do not allow others to dump their problems on them, or to vent their problems endlessly as a substitute for solving them. Good listeners know when to stop listening.
- Good listeners simply listen and acknowledge what the person is saying. They do not have to agree, but they do not judge.
Facts About Assertive Communication Skills
Practicing assertive communication is the most effective way for caregivers to get their needs met.
- Assertive communicators do not attack or belittle others.
- Assertive communicators are clear about how they feel and what they want.
- Assertive communicators open their hearts to the other person.
- Assertive communicators validate the good in the other person.
- Assertive communicators are clear and effective. They are not aggressive or wishy-washy.
Facts About Caregivers Getting Their Needs Met
Caregivers must realize that they are entitled to get their needs met about 50% of the time, just like everybody else. This means there are times when a caregiver’s needs will not be met. Accepting this gracefully is also part of effective communication.
Even when communication is the best that it possibly can be, sometimes people do not see eye to eye. Others may not change or respond to the caregiver’s needs no matter how clearly and effectively those needs are communicated. Others may try to argue, or not accept what the caregiver is saying.
It is up to the caregiver to not get sucked into an argument in this case. People do not have the power to change other people. If the other person does not respond in the desired way, the caregiver at least knows where he or she stands, and can make decisions accordingly. If the need is still very strong, the caregiver can try a different strategy or enlisting other help.
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