How caregivers can keep dignity intact when conversations get tense
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
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(Aging Untold) — Stress can turn into sharp words when you are a caregiver for someone you love. The Aging Untold experts are sharing advice on how to communicate in a way that keeps dignity intact, builds cooperation and helps caregivers reset when a conversation escalates. Step away before things escalate “Sam” Cradduck, a gerontologist, said the first move to make when it feels like a conversation is about to escalate is to leave the room. “You have to step away. You really do,” Cradduck said. “You’ve got to let yourself calm down.” Aging well coach Katherine Ambrose said caregivers can take that step by removing themselves or getting help. “If you’re fantasizing about escaping, or noticing the yellow flags like you’re starting to get hot, shaky, your jaw’s tense, that’s a good time to go, ‘OK, my nervous system is at its limit,’” Ambrose said. Treat communication as behavior Caregivers should consider what the person they care for is going through, Cradduck said. “Their communicati