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3 Tips For Starting a Job Where You Work Closely With Seniors

If you’re looking for a career change or are wanting to start a job where you can really make a difference in people’s lives, working with seniors might be a great option for you. However, if you haven’t worked with older people before, you might not know what to expect. But with the right preparation and forethought, you may find that working with seniors is exactly what you want to and should be doing.

So whether you’re thinking about volunteering as a companion or getting hired at an assisted living facility, here are three tips for starting a job where you work closely with senior citizens. 

Practice Patience

One of the first things that you’ll need to know about working with seniors is that you’re going to have to practice a lot of patience

For many older people, it can take a while for them to learn new things, perform certain tasks, or even communicate. If you’re in a hurry to get things done, you might find yourself feeling very frustrated with them. But when you’re able to take your time and give them enough time to finish whatever it is that you’ve started together, you’ll find that the seniors you’re working with will have a more enjoyable time and you’ll come away from your work feeling less stressed and frazzled. 

Learn How To Be An Active Listener

Oftentimes, older people don’t have as big of a social circle as they might like. They may not get to talk to people that they love very often or get to see their friends and family members when they want. This can leave them feeling like they miss simple conversations with people. So if you’re in a position to be speaking with an elderly person, make sure you’re being an active listener for them.

To do this, you’ll want to look them in the eye as well as verbally and physically engage with them when they’re speaking to you. You can ask them questions about what they just shared in order to keep the conversation going. But by just giving a little bit of your time to conversing with them without looking or feeling bored, you could be doing them a great service. 

Know That What They Really Need Is Company

For a large number of older people, they live the twilight years feeling very lonely. So when they have someone like you who can spend time with them, this company can be truly invaluable. Knowing this, try to give each elderly person you interact with the love and care that you’d give your own grandparent. And in return, they’ll give you that same love right back. 

If you’re thinking about working with seniors, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you have a positive experience and create positive experiences for those you’re working with as well. 

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