So much bulldozing has been witnessed in the language that is used when helping seniors adapt at home, downsize, lightsize, and/or transition towards senior living. These are words that destroy confidence and breakdown conversations: “They have no choice”, “We will force them.”, “I’ll put my parents over there.”, “There is no other option.”, “He shoved her into making that decision.” These statements are painful to hear and it is clear that the words used trigger/activate emotions during every conversation. This ultimately affects how closed people are to talking about aging, and often leads to arms that are crossed in a crisp fashion over the chest, with heels dug into to the ground, as the senior says: “They can take me feet first out of this place.” A slight modification in the words we use when a senior faces new realities and adjusts to current needs can create a positive outcome, less guilt and shame for everyone involved, and can help offer more power to the senior in the room. Based on 26 years of field research based in Canada, United States & Europe, this presentation will bring light to the current language used and offer tools to have more productive conversations that are beneficial to everyone involved. The goal is to invite change so that, as a community, we can create new best practices and teach one person at a time how a few words can make a huge difference when we guide our seniors facing a delicate stage in life.

Authors:
Marie-Claude Giguere, Independent Scholar, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Marie-Claude Giguère is founder and Stay or Move? Consultant at Helping Seniors™, a relocation and adaptation service based in Montreal, Canada and award-winning illustrator and author for her books Grandma’s Place and Stay or Move?.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marieclaudegiguere/

Additional website of interest
https://helpingseniors.ca/speaking-engagements-media/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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