Unlocking the communication code Archives - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

What the developmental tasks tell us about older adults

June 28, 2020

“Developmental stages in life are characterized by sets of oppositional tasks that need to be completed so the individual can move on to the next stage. These tasks are the drivers of personality growth, the internal engine that propels a…

David Solie’s Complimentary Booklets for Caregivers

September 25, 2018

So far, I have created five (5) booklets for caregivers and their families. I have two more in the works. All five are complimentary, available in a PDF format and can be ordered using the form below. Here is a…

Three Complimentary PDF Booklets by David Solie

July 6, 2018

These three booklets have proven useful to professionals and laypeople alike. Together, they offer a preview of the unique challenges of caring for aging parents, insights into the unspoken but all consuming psychological agenda of the last phase of life…

PDF Booklet: Unlocking the Communication Code of Seniors

June 21, 2018

This foundational article is now available in a PDF booklet that can be shared family members, colleagues, clients and anyone who is involved with older adults. Just use the order form below to obtain your complimentary copy The single biggest…

Updated Website Announcement

June 22, 2017

New Look I updated my website to give it a clean, uncluttered appearance. I also redesigned it functionality. You will notice right away that the goal is to help viewers quickly locate key blog posts. The same is true for…

Unlocking the Communication Code of Seniors

May 31, 2017

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place—-George Bernard Shaw Despite the unprecedented opportunity afforded advisors by an aging population, many find themselves unprepared to successfully communicate with seniors. Instead, they wind up frustrated…

Dearest Son, Dearest Daughter…

December 17, 2014

I wrote How To Say It To Seniors for adult children of aging parents as well as professionals who work with older adults. In retrospect, that was short sighted. What I failed to appreciate was that older adults were deeply…

Shutting Down The Planning Conversation

December 1, 2014

“Despite good intentions, outdated assumptions about older clients may lead advisors to inadvertently send out the wrong message–and it is this poor signaling, not the eccentricities of aging, that proves to be a primary cause of communication setbacks. The good…

Caregiver Support Lessons…

February 12, 2014

Last fall, I started a caregiver’s support group. The goal was to offer a non-judgmental setting for adult children to share their stories. While being the facilitator, my real job was arranging chairs and making sure everyone had a turn…

Dancing with Negative Feedback: Redirection and Resolution

November 21, 2013

I wrote this article for an assisted living magazine but the technique of “Redirection and Resolution” works in a wide range of situations where negative feedback needs to be managed in a calm, professional manner. Asking the daughter of a…