Comments on: Family Caregivers Communication Class — Part 3: Dealing with Pessimistic Aging Parents

By: A Lesson on Positive Thinking for Pessimistic Aging Parents | Tender Loving Eldercare

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:18:47 +0000

[...] a previous post about communicating with negative-thinking seniors I raise this point: After they’ve vented about [...]

By: Tips for When Aging Parents Say Mean Things | Tender Loving Eldercare

Tips for When Aging Parents Say Mean Things | Tender Loving Eldercare — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:08:11 +0000

[...] referring to pessimistic or difficult aging parents who are always whining and complaining, which I’ve written about previously. I am talking about our normally sweet and kind Golden Oldies who come out with mean statements [...]

By: Family Caregivers Communication Class | Basic American Comfort

Family Caregivers Communication Class | Basic American Comfort — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:15:53 +0000

[...] wrote a second part about “Speaking Easily About Difficult Topics” and a third part focusing on “Dealing with Pessimistic Aging Parents”. This week she posted a fourth part on the subject of “Talking with Hearing Impaired Aging [...]

By: Linda Abbit

Linda Abbit — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:14:26 +0000

Dear Alex,

Welcome to the TLeC community!

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and comment. Your work was very helpful in my research.

Yes, it’s definitely easier to deal with negative people in a work setting, or with someone who you don’t know (and care about) as well as you do your parents.

By: Alex Landis

Alex Landis — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:35:54 +0000

Hey Linda,

Great article! Very informative. Thanks for taking the time to cite my post as a resource. I appreciate it.

It’s never easy dealing with negative people, especially when they are someone we love, care about, and want the best for.

That’s why it’s so important that instead of becoming negative ourselves when faced with a negative person/situation, we instead combat it with positivity and positive reinforcement.

Thanks for sharing these ideas with more people!

Alex

By: Linda Abbit

Linda Abbit — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:41:16 +0000

Hi Davina — Excellent suggestion! Each of us can use that idea in every day life as well — not just with our aging parents. Opening our minds to a different perspective creates individual growth.

Hi SpaceAgeSage — Thanks for sharing your real-life success with that technique!

By: SpaceAgeSage

SpaceAgeSage — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:23:01 +0000

Great post! I wish more people knew this. It would make a lot of sweeter, instead of more sour, relationship.

“After they’ve vented about their list of complaints, immediately say to them, ‘Now tell me something positive’.” — this one has been valuable for me when my mom gets too wound up about the some horrible news story.

By: Davina

Davina — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:18:06 +0000

Hi Linda. Nicely covered. The only other suggestion I could add to this list is to ask them to view their issue from another perspective.