Building strong connections in China!

Early on, I set up 50 chat rooms across the world in the 50 poorest countries of the world. I realized everyone there didn’t have an iphone or a lap top, but those who did had no way of using their technology/dependable electricity to connect with kindred spirits, especially when two sprits both were living with the symptoms of dementia and/or were caregivers of such folks.

For over a year, I read the postings and interacted with folks from all over the globe. At first, I thought there would be a wide and deep cultural divide, and we would have different issues, different fears, and different relationship problems. Turned out, once again, I was wrong!

The impact of dementia on individuals, their care carers, their families, their communities is amazingly the same across most cultures I encountered. This is what the Chinese are saying on their new National Dementia web site:

“Being able to truly connect with the person who has dementia can make a great difference to your daily interactions. It can also help in your other relationships with family and friends too!

* Work to build trust and respect - These elements are essential for real connection

* Ask the right kind of questions - Generate meaningful dialogue with open-ended questions that demonstrate you are interested in what the other person has to say.

* Work to increase your awareness and to become an active listener - Give them 100% of your attention in that moment. Do your best to understand the other person’s perspective and thoughtfully consider the intended meaning of their words.

* Read the non-verbal communication - Words are only part of the message and what people don’t say will often tell you more than what they do. Listen with your eyes as well as your ears.

* Speak their language - While most of us understand English, we all speak our own ‘language.’ Know who you are talking with and learn their language.

* Acknowledge their feelings - You don’t need to agree with people to understand them, to respect their point of view or to create genuine connection.”

Good advice I would say for the residents of any country, anywhere on earth facing the issues created by failing cognitive skills. China’s first hotline to counsel elderly just opened in Beijing

www.chinaview.cn

Richard