Active-Listening Skills

Active listening is a communication technique where the listener is fully engaged and focused on the speaker, seeking to understand their message and intent rather than just waiting to respond. It involves paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, and reflecting on the speaker's message to demonstrate understanding. 

• Ask open-ended questions  

• Can probe an individual to go into more details with what they are saying.  

• Summarize  

• Sometimes, paraphrasing what an individual said can ensure that you properly understand what the individual is telling you while also acknowledging that you are paying attention to the member.  

• Reflect  
• Clarify  (e.g., “tell me more about that” or “what do you mean by this?”)​

6 Tips for Active Listening 
youtu.be/oWe_ogA5YCU

Person-first language

​Person-first language emphasizes the individual before any disability or condition, recognizing that a person's identity is more than just their disability. It's a way of showing respect and avoiding the stigma associated with disabilities.

• Only mention specific functional disability  

• When possible, emphasize members’ abilities rather than disabilities  

• Avoid sensationalized language (suffers, afflicted with, inspirational, courageous) 
• The words “disability” and “handicap” have different meaning, do not use them interchangeably. 

• Disability – a functional limitation (i.e.: issues with communications or mobility) 
• Handicap – an environmental limitation (i.e.: no wheelchair ramp)

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​Person-First Language
​youtu.be/obbwb1bJ5io

SUPPORTING SOMEONE WITH...

​APHASIA (difficulty communicating)

​Aphasia is a language disorder that affects how you communicate. It's caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others. A person with aphasia may have trouble understanding, speaking, reading, or writing.

• Make sure you have the person’s attention before speaking. 
• Use body language, eye contact, and gestures both to communicate and to understand. 
• Don’t talk down to the person; aphasia often occurs without affecting intelligence at all. 
• Slow down and use simple sentence structures and words. 
• Don’t try to finish the person’s sentences. Allow him or her to finish speaking or communicating. 
• Don’t emphasize or correct problems in word usage or pronunciation. ​

Memory LOss

• Be patient  
• Write down important pieces of information  
• Keep a regular routine  
• Use verbal cues  ​

Caregiver Training: Communicating with a Client with Dementia (Middle Stage) (5:15) youtu.be/MMmeCkF5-8M

Dementia Education Guide 
dementia_yourcompanionguide_en_web-20oct2021.pdf

Hearing Impairment

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• Face the individual when speaking  

• Speak loud and clear, and not too quickly (don’t shout) 
• Using hand gestures can sometimes be beneficial (i.e.: pointing at your wrist if you are asking for the time) 
• Have visual cues 
• Reduce background noise if possible ​

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Visual Impairments 

It is important to be aware that individuals with visual impairment: 

• Rely on other sense(s) to obtain information  
• Process information differently 

• Often need an orientation to spatially relate to a new environment  

Some ways you can support individuals with visual impairment: 

• Having cues to indicate going from room to room or identify boundaries  
• Adding sound  
• Ensuring changes in flooring are identified  
• Allowing manipulation of objects  ​

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How to Help Someone With Vision Loss
youtu.be/QPlOWcpKnoQ