As we get older, the chances of needing to have tough conversations at some point go up exponentially. Learning how to have difficult conversations in your senior years is vital to articulating your wishes and talking to your family about later-in-life care. Addressing those issues can be challenging to manage with grace and patience but is needed to reach a mutually beneficial understanding. Especially if you are aging alone. So, here are some things for you to keep in mind while you begin your tough conversation.

How to Start Tough Conversations

Why It’s So Tough

There are many reasons we find having tough conversations to be so difficult, but understanding your conflict can help in the process. Here are some common reasons people find it so hard to have tough conversations about senior care.

• Fear of rejection
• Childhood experiences
• Lack of confidence
• Fear of hurting someone’s feelings
• Fear of making your family uncomfortable

These fears are understandable but can stand in the way of you having a serious talk with your family and friends about your wishes later in life. Understanding your fear is the first step in overcoming it.

How to Have Tough Conversations the Right Way

It takes delicate maneuvering to have tough conversations with family and friends about your care. However, by keeping yourself grounded and present, you can get down to the topics that matter to everyone. Though you have no control over their reaction, you can control how you choose to engage. Use these techniques for getting the most out of your tough conversation:

Prepare Yourself

The first step in having a difficult talk is making sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared. Do a little preparation to determine what you want to talk about beforehand and how you want to address each issue. If you are having end-of-life care conversations, then you will want to go over your estate planning, DNR, and other important topics.

Try focusing on opening phrases like:

• I’d like to talk to you about x, y, and z.
• It’s really time we talk about x, y, and z.
• I’ve really been thinking about x, y, and z.

Stay on the Same Level

When having tough conversations, it’s important for the person you are conversing with to understand that you are on their level. In other words, try to understand where they are coming from and that their response might be an emotional one.

Be Respectful

Maintaining respect throughout the entire conversation is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to conversations about care farther down the road. If you are talking to your family about your desires, this might be easier but can become difficult if you are talking to your spouse about later-in-life-care support. Respect is the foundation of healthy conversations and you have to build that foundation in order to smooth out the wrinkles in your tough talk.

Now that you’ve got the right mindset, learn the tips and tricks experts have been using for years to Unlock the Power to Declutter: The Definitive Guide on How to Start.