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Discuss the Risks
You may have noticed some fall risks in the home and want to talk about them. Discussing the risks is really a conversation about changes happening at home and getting older adults agree to them. For example, removing an area rug, adding a grab bar, converting a bathroom. They are all changes, whether they fell small or big.
Change does not happen on its own. A change starts with motivation. So the question is: how can I, as a caregiver, help increase an older adult's motivation? In this section, we will introduce a method based on Motivational Interviewing, to help guide one of the most difficult parts in change process: supporting older adult in saying yes to both small and big changes. This method is informed by and adapted from Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change and Grow (4th Edition). William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick.
Will this help me?
Ready to dive in?
Wait, but I can increase motivation for someone else?
Have you heard them say either they like something good about the potential change and something bad about current situation?
Like what?
Like, "maybe a grab bar will help..." OR "gosh, this is getting too hard.."
*If you have not heard them say these, start planting seeds by strengthening relationship first.
Let the journey begin. We’ll start by exploring some myths and realities about the change process, then move into building relationships, and eventually focus on inviting change talk as change can not be forced.
Mary wonders: "this is good for her, why can't she just do it?" There are many myths about “change,” and we will explore how change actually happens.
Mary thinks that she and Irene don't have the best relationship, but not the worse either.
You already have a relationship, but it’s probably not one where you simply say “do this” and the older adult happily agrees and follows through.
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Mary is puzzled, "She doesn’t seem motivated to make change at first – but maybe she actually is?"
When people start talking about changes and their motivation to make them, they might say things that make it seem like they’re not open to change – but that may actually be the perfect time to invite them to talk about change.