The world around us changes quickly. Sometimes the changes are great, such as increased rights and acceptance for LGBTQ communities, but it’s also true that change can feel scary and strange. For example, the last time you had to scan a full QR code to access a restaurant’s menu, you likely felt frustration. For many, even accessing the usual banking services is much harder without a smartphone.
And then we come to AI, where chat apps can speak to us in increasingly human-sounding ways, or have led to layoffs at even the biggest companies. It can be hard for someone raised on the internet to deal with, especially as we get older. You can imagine how difficult it is for some of an advanced age.
You may have seen this with your relatives. Perhaps they’re still functional independently, or gaining the support of a Premier retirement community. Regardless, you may wish to consider the following advice to help them acclimate in the best possible sense.
Discuss Challenges With Empathy
It’s hard for someone when the world around them begins to operate using rules they don’t immediately understand, and their feelings are completely valid, so avoid brushing them off. You might even feel an inkling of how this is when a young person uses internet slang you have zero idea about.
As such, it’s always best to understand their difficulty and validate their perspective without patronizing them, but laughing at the changes and framing them as something you all have to adapt to. At the very least, it keeps the atmosphere supportive and calm, which is what you want when suggesting their need for extra care, the comfort of a premier retirement community, or why they need a different phone. You’ll find that when someone feels truly heard, they’re much more open to accepting help and trying their best to adapt.
Teach Them Simple Skills
Let’s say there’s a new technology you need to show them. Don’t introduce the whole thing at once if you can help it, instead begin showing them the one or two simple steps they need to complete a single task, and try not to bombard them with too much information all at once. For instance, if they want to see pictures of the family, teach them only how to open the photo app and scroll through the images, nothing else.
If needed, it can be best to write down the steps in a very large, easy-to-read font so they can follow along without asking you every time. Repetition is important here, so be ready to go over the same steps several times until they feel more comfortable trying it on their own without your guidance.
Patiently Answer Any Questions
It’s important to remember that asking questions is a sign that your relative is actively trying to learn, and that’s a good sign. Even if it’s testing your focus, try your best to answer their questions with the utmost patience and never show irritation, even if you’ve answered the exact same question ten times before this morning. Your patient attitude is what should help them apply their own, too..
Be aware that sometimes they may not fully understand the technical jargon you use, so keep your language simple and relatable to their life experience.
