Keeping Safe and Being Prepared: Our COVID19 Policies
Learn More

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney | Coulson Elder Law

Get Help Right Away

Call Today: 618-632-7000 or 314-567-9292

Email Today: info@coulsonelderlaw.com

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Alzheimer’s Planning
    • Asset Preservation Planning
    • Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Eligibility
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust and Estate Administration
    • VA Benefits Planning
  • News & Videos
    • Video Series
      • Coronavirus Preparedness
      • Asset Preservation Planning
      • Common Estate Planning Mistakes
      • Dealing With Alzheimer’s
      • Financial Exploitation of Elders
      • Handling Difficult Conversations with Seniors
      • Married Couples and Medicaid
      • Medicaid Application Process
      • Medicaid Look-Back Rule and Transfer Penalties
      • Nursing Home Admission and Care
      • Veterans Pension Benefits
      • What You Can and Can’t Keep with Medicaid
    • Weekly Newsletter
  • Alzheimer’s Guide
  • Presentations
  • Hear From Our Clients
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Experience
  • About
    • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Partners & Resources
    • About Our Fees
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Email Us
    • Find Our Offices
    • Refer a Friend

Ask, Don’t Tell: The Art of Gentle Persuasion

Continuing with our five-part series Handling the Difficult Conversation with a Loved One about Facility Placement: Tips for Success, Wes Coulson offers this persuasive tip when talking with your elderly loved one.

Tip 3 – Ask, Don’t Tell: The Art of Gentle Persuasion

In this Elder Law Minute, and the third of our series, Wes Coulson shares his advice on the power gentle persuasion has by leading people in a conversation instead of just telling them what to do. This “ask, don’t tell” method helps guide people during these difficult conversations and betters your chance for a successful outcome.

Ask, Don’t Tell: The Art of Gentle Persuasion

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Wes Coulson and this is your Elder Law Minute. This is another in our series on Handling a Difficult Conversation with an Elderly Loved One about Facility Placement.

Today I want to talk about the art of gentle persuasion. I’ve been told that you’ve mastered the art of conversation when everything that comes out of your mouth is a questions rather than a statement. You persuade better if you lead someone to the right conclusion rather than just saying, “You will do this.” People don’t react well to being told what to do, especially as here where it’s something that they really aren’t looking forward to doing. So, instead of saying, “You need to go into assisted living,”  say, “Can we talk about your situation at home, do you see problems with that?” And if they don’t give you the right answer, you can kind of give leading questions. If they say, “I should be fine at home.” Then well, “Do you see problems with that?” And then:

  • “Have you considered any other alternatives?”
  • “What about Assisted Living?”
  • “What do you think would be the advantages of Assisted Living?”

And when you start getting answers that tell you the positive things that they might be open to the possibility, then you go, “You know what, I think that’s a good idea, Mom, I think we should look into that.” And again, if you can lead people to the right answer, you better your chances for success. Thanks.

Next week in our Handling the Difficult Conversation with a Loved One about Facility Placement: Tips for Success series, Wes Coulson shares another great tip with Writing Things Down Makes Remembering Easier.

For more about assisted living and nursing homes, visit:

  • The Do’s and Don’ts of assuring the best possible nursing home experience
  • Medicaid planning for someone who is already in a nursing home
  • Assisted Living Facilities

Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (877)995-6876 or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.

iStock_000009804646_ExtraSmall

For Immediate Help

If you or a loved one needs immediate help with a planning matter or legal issue, please contact us, and we will get back to you promptly.

Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call Us
618-632-7000
314-567-9292

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Join us for a FREE Workshop

Free Workshops

If you have reached age 65, there's about a 45% chance that you will eventually need long-term care.

Join us for one of our highly informative and FREE workshops and find out how you can protect your family's hard-earned life savings.

Visit Free Workshops for more information.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our free weekly Newsletter and receive the latest news, updates and videos straight to your inbox!

Handling the Difficult Conversation with a Loved One about Facility Placement: Five Tips for Success

Tip #1 - Practice makes Perfect: The Value of Role Playing

Tip #2 - Rome Wasn't Built in a Day: Know When to Say When

Tip #3 - Ask, Don't Tell: The Art of Gentle Persuasion

Tip #4 - Writing Things Down Makes Remembering Easier

Tip #5 - Be Brave, Be Strong and Don't Give Up

More News & Videos

  • Alzheimer's Planning (81)
  • Asset Preservation Planning (147)
  • Coronavirus Preparedness Series (9)
  • Coulson Elder Law (11)
  • Elder Law Minute Video (352)
  • Estate Planning (104)
  • Health Care Planning/Medicare (62)
  • Medicaid Eligibility (125)
  • News & Videos (394)
  • Special Needs Planning (28)
  • Trust Administration (3)
  • Veterans Benefits (51)
Front office building of Coulson Elder Law
  • Directions to our office

774 Sunset Blvd Suite 200
O'Fallon, IL 62269

IL Phone: (618) 632-7000
MO Phone: (314) 567-9292
Toll-free: (877) 995-6876
Fax: (618) 632-7333
Email: info@coulsonelderlaw.com

  • Wes Coulson
  • News and Videos
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Brochures
  • Free Workshops
  • Presentations
  • Hear From Our Clients
  • Partners & Resources
  • Legal Disclaimer

Copyright © 2022 · Wesley J. Coulson, Coulson Elder Law, LLC