| How to Use Turkey Leftovers Posted: 26 Nov 2021 12:00 AM PST When one prepares a full turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other time of the year, there tends to be a lot of leftovers. Don't let these leftovers be forgotten in your fridge to dry out in plastic containers, though! Whether you have huge slabs of meat left over or nothing but bones remaining, there is a huge variety of recipes and combinations out there that can extend the life of your turkey by days, weeks, or even months. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Day-After-Thanksgiving Panini - 2 slices of bread
- Thanksgiving leftovers (turkey, stuffing, mash potato, gravy)
- Lettuce
- Cranberry sauce
- Candied yams
- Butter
[Edit]Pulled Turkey Barbeque Sandwich - Dark turkey meat
- 2 hamburger buns, or sourdough buns
- Barbecue sauce
- Coleslaw
- Chili powder (optional)
- Sriracha sauce (optional)
- Mustard (optional)
- Bacon (optional)
[Edit]Turkey Stock - Cleaned turkey bones
- Celery bottoms
- Carrot tops
- Onion
- Bay leaves
- Water
- 1 teaspoon (5.7 g) of thyme and sage (optional)
[Edit]Stuffing and Turkey Casserole - Leftover turkey and stuffing
- 1 can of unconcentrated cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can of unconcentrated cream of chicken soup (optional replacement for mushroom soup)
- of white wine
- of milk (optional replacement for wine)
[Edit]Turkey Salad - Chopped potatoes, celery, and onion
- Turkey strips
- Cranberries
- Cucumber slices, cashew nuts, and hard boiled eggs (optional additions)
- Lettuce or spinach
- Mayonnaise, honey mustard, cranberry sauce, or lemon juice for dressing
[Edit]Day-After-Thanksgiving Panini - Grab two slices of your favorite type of bread. Any bread will do, but sourdough is considered best for paninis as it keeps its structure with wet fillings and toasts well.[1]
- Lay some lettuce and leftover cranberry sauce on a slice. The lettuce will prevent the sauce and fillings from making the bread too soggy, and the cranberry sauce will add a sweet touch.
- Layer slices of your leftover turkey on top of the cranberry sauce. Generally you should use just enough to make a single layer, to stop the sandwich from getting too big, but if you don't mind using a knife and fork, go ahead and add as much as your heart desires.
- You can optionally spread mashed potatoes or stuffing on the turkey for a heartier panini. You can certainly add both, but it will end up being a heavy meal to eat in one sitting.
- Mash up some candied yams to add a sweet touch to the panini. This is not required to make the panini, but some find that the candied yams make the sandwich taste sweeter. If you used a lot of cranberry sauce, candied yams can counteract its tartness but can also make the sandwich overpoweringly sweet, so be careful of how much you add.
- Pour gravy on the top of your fillings and put the bread slices together. Don't go overboard on gravy, as you still have to cook the panini and a runny sandwich is hard to grill correctly.[2] Put the sandwich together and spread a light layer of butter on the outside of the bread.
- A good rule of thumb is to use enough gravy to be able to spread a thin layer on the top slice, so that the bread absorbs some of the liquid and becomes more flavorful while also controlling the gravy's messiness.
- Cook on medium-low heat in a grill pan or skillet. Cook it until the bread looks crusty, not burnt, and make sure the fillings are hot. You can use a panini maker if you have one, but it is not required. Once it's done, grab a plate, a knife and fork if the sandwich is gigantic, and enjoy!
[Edit]Pulled Turkey Barbeque Sandwich - Peel off pieces of dark turkey meat, and toss them into a bowl. Pulled turkey barbeque is best with the darker parts of the turkey meat because of its richer flavor and higher fat content, but can be made with any part of the turkey, except of course the bone. Use as much leftover turkey as your heart desires, there is no set amount you should use.[3]
- Add your favorite barbecue sauce to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Use enough to coat all the turkey in a thin layer of barbeque - don't go overboard or you will completely mask the turkey flavor with smoky barbeque.
- If you like your barbeque sauce on the hot side, sprinkling a dash of chili pepper or sriracha sauce into the bowl will add a subtle heat element.
- On the other hand, if you like your barbeque sauce spicy, add a little mustard to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Add the mixed turkey and barbeque sauce to a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the turkey until it is cooked through, and stir it every few minutes to make sure it is heating up evenly.
- You can also add bacon to the saucepan for a little extra smokiness. Chop up and saute the bacon until it is crispy in the saucepan before adding the barbeque sauce and turkey.[4]
- Toast some buns as the turkey cooks in the barbeque sauce. Use hamburger buns for a sloppy joe style sandwich, or sourdough buns if you want to absorb some of the barbeque into the bread.
- After toasting the buns, add a layer of coleslaw on the bottom bun for a little extra crunch and refreshing flavor to the smoky barbeque sandwich.[5]
- Add a good amount of barbeque turkey to your bun, and feast! Be prepared to get messy, and think about using a knife and fork if the sandwich ends up being large. Barbeque turkey sandwiches go fantastically with sweet apples, so consider garnishing your plate with a few slices.[6]
[Edit]Turkey Stock - Roast the turkey bones in the oven on a baking sheet. Peel the leftover bones as clean as you can of any pieces of meat or skin. Put the bones on a baking sheet in a single layer, and roast at until it is browned.
- Add chopped onion, celery, carrots, and bay leaves to a large pot. Celery bottoms and carrot tops (with the leaves removed) are best for this step as they are usually thrown away, like turkey bones, but contain a lot of flavor perfect for preparing stock.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon (5.7 g) of thyme and sage, and add the skin, fat, and meat that you removed from the bones. Keep everything in big chunks for easy straining when the stock is finished. Thyme and sage are optional, but can infuse your leftovers with fresh flavor.[7]
- Toss the roasted bones into the pot, and cover ingredients with water. Fill the pot with water so that it covers the ingredients about higher than the surface. Using more water than this will make your stock taste thin and watery, but use any less and the water could evaporate and you won't have a high yield of stock when finished.
- Simmer the stock for 3 hours, adding water as needed. On a very low heat, let the ingredients get to know each other in the pot and keep an eye on the water level. If the water level starts going down due to evaporation, re-fill it as necessary.[8]
- Strain out all the veggies and meat with a fine-mesh strainer. After the stock has simmered, use a mesh strainer to separate the delicious stock from the ingredients. Throw away the veggies and meats, as all the flavor has been absorbed by the stock and it will be mushy and unappetizing.
- Let the stock cool for about an hour, then remove excess fat. Any extra fat will rise to the surface of your stock, where you can easily skim it away. Don't worry if you can't get it all - when the stock gets cold, the fat will solidify and you can just lift it off the surface.
- You can freeze or refrigerate the stock for up to 3 months in a sealed container to use in later recipes or as a warming broth in the winter.[9]
[Edit]Stuffing and Turkey Casserole - Mix your leftover turkey and stuffing together in a casserole dish. Use as much turkey and stuffing as you like, but don't fill it over the rim of the dish or you won't be able to add anything else to the casserole without it spilling over.
- Pour a can of cream of mushroom soup and white wine over the casserole. Use a full can of cream of mushroom, but try to avoid using concentrated soup. Add about of white wine to the casserole as well.
- You can use cream of chicken soup if you want the casserole to taste meaty rather than mushroomy.[10]
- If you prefer to avoid alcohol, you can use of milk instead of white wine.
- Bake the casserole at for 20 to 30 minutes until golden. Be sure to press the casserole down into the pan to make sure it does not overflow the casserole dish when cooking. Look for the stuffing to start browning very lightly on top to know when it is finished cooking.[11]
- You can broil the casserole for up to 5 minutes if you want the top to be extra crispy, but be careful of leaving it in the oven too long at this high a heat or you could burn it.
- Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes, and serve. You can add leftover roasted veggies as a side, or enjoy the savory and filling meal on its own.
[Edit]Turkey Salad - Chop up the potatoes, cranberries, celery, and onion. Chop each ingredient into small pieces and mix together thoroughly in a large bowl. If you are using fresh veggies rather than leftover veggies, be sure to cook them properly first in a skillet.
- Potatoes can take a little while to be ready to add to a salad, so be sure to boil them in advance. The same goes for onion, which can be sauteed ahead of time if you want them hot, or can be left raw for a cold salad.
- Mix the leftover turkey with your veggies and additions in the bowl. Make sure your ingredients are spread evenly throughout while mixing, and be careful not to add too much or you risk masking the flavor of the turkey.
- Some common additions to add to the top of a turkey salad include cucumber slices, cashew nuts, and hard boiled eggs.
- For a green salad, add a layer of lettuce or spinach to the bottom of your bowl and add your other veggies and turkey on top.
- Add a salad dressing to the top of your salad and enjoy. Light mayonnaise is a great dressing for this salad as it goes well with both the potatoes and hard boiled eggs, but don't use too much or it can overpower other flavors. Honey mustard is a good dressing as well for its sweet and savory flavors, and cranberry sauce can turn the salad into a Thanksgiving specialty. You can also use lemon juice as a lighter alternative.[12]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Day-After-Thanksgiving Panini - Grill pan or skillet
- Masher
[Edit]Pulled Turkey Barbeque Sandwich [Edit]Turkey Stock - Chef's knife
- Baking sheet
- Mesh strainer
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon
[Edit]Stuffing and Turkey Casserole - Casserole dish
- Oven with broil setting
[Edit]Turkey Salad - Chef's knife
- Bowl
- Skillet for sauteing veggies
- After using the turkey leftovers, if you still have some remaining, you can freeze it to use at a later time. Turkey will stay good frozen for about 6 months. Be sure to re-heat it to an internal temperature of before you eat it to make sure the meat is safe to eat.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Season a Turkey Posted: 25 Nov 2021 04:00 PM PST Start seasoning a whole turkey the day before roasting for the most memorable flavor. You can season a turkey with a variety of different flavors, as well as a little salt and pepper. Once you've seasoned the turkey, you can cook it according to your recipe. You'll be left with a nice main course to enjoy with friends and family members. [Edit]Making a Seasoning - Use a standard Thanksgiving seasoning. If you're making a turkey for Thanksgiving or another holiday, try a standard seasoning with some parsley and sage. This will produce a classic taste for your family to enjoy.[1]
- In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup of fresh chopped parsley. Then, add one tablespoon each of sage, rosemary, and thyme. Add two tablespoons each of olive oil and melted butter, as well as half a teaspoon of both salt and pepper. The kind of olive oil you use doesn't matter.
- Mix all your ingredients together until you have an even, uniform mixture.
- Try a lemon seasoning. If you want something a little different, try a lemon seasoning. This will make for a fresh, savory turkey.[2]
- Mix 1/4 cup of unsalted butter with a teaspoon of lemon zest. Then, add a teaspoon of chopped thyme and a teaspoon of chopped marjoram.
- Mix all the ingredients together into a uniform mixture.
- Make a garlic herb rub. Many people love the taste of garlic. If you and your loved ones are fans of foods heavy in garlic, a garlic-herb rub can make for a great turkey seasoning.[3]
- Mix three tablespoons of room temperature butter with two tablespoons each of rosemary and thyme.
- Mince three garlic cloves and mix them in with the butter/herb mixture.
- Use a maple syrup glaze. If you want something sweeter, think about maple syrup. A maple syrup glaze can provide a somewhat unexpected but pleasant taste for your turkey.[4]
- You actually apply this mixture after cooking the turkey for two and a half hours. You will mix two tablespoons of the pan juices with 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Then, rub the mixture all over your turkey.
- Then, roast your turkey for 15 more minutes to let the flavor set in
[Edit]Applying Seasoning to the Turkey - Rub your mixture all over your turkey. Usually, you apply the seasoning before you cook your turkey. However, remember the maple syrup glaze is applied after the turkey's been in the oven. With other glazes, you'll rub the turkey down in the mixture ahead of time.[5]
- Use enough of any mixture you choose to cover the full surface of the turkey. Rub it all over the outside of the turkey, covering areas like the legs as well.
- Add your remaining ingredients inside the turkey. If you have any seasoning left over after applying a liberal layer, do not let it go to waste. Instead of discarding leftover seasoning, rub a little bit of it inside the cavity of the turkey. This will make the turkey's seasoning taste a little stronger.[6]
- Cook your turkey after seasoning according to your recipe. Once you're seasoning applied, cook your turkey according to your recipe's instructions. Instructions will vary, but turkeys are usually cooked around 325 degrees Fahrenheit (about 163 degrees Celsius) and are cooked for at least a couple of hours.[7]
- You will need an oven thermometer to make sure your turkey is cooked through. A turkey must have temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe to eat.[8]
[Edit]Assuring a Quality Turkey - Figure out how much seasoning you need. You may need to make a little more of the seasoning than the recipe instructs if you have a very large turkey. To determine how much seasoning you need, place your turkey in the container you're going to cook it in.[9]
- Slowly fill the container with water. Keep filling the container until the turkey is completely submerged.
- Remove the turkey and measure out the water. This is how much seasoning you will need.
- Select a quality turkey to season. Solid seasoning will not make a poor quality turkey taste good. Before you season a turkey, make sure to pick a quality turkey at the store. Go for a turkey between 12 and 20 pounds without artificial flavors or added preservatives.[10]
- Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before seasoning. If you purchase a turkey that requires thawing, read the package instructions. Make sure you thaw the turkey for as long as necessary. Your turkey will not cook correctly if it's improperly thawed, so give yourself enough time to adequately thaw the turkey.[11]
- Finished.
- Other ingredients you could include in your turkey seasoning mix are sage, marjoram, rosemary, ground black pepper and nutmeg, to taste.
- If you lose some of your seasoning when brushing the turkey with melted butter, sprinkle on some additional salt and ground black pepper.
- Adding paprika to the spice blend will give the turkey a zesty flavor and encourage better browning.
[Edit]Warnings - You can get sick from the microscopic bacteria on raw turkey. Wash your hands and any surfaces that come in contact with uncooked turkey.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cook Cranberries Posted: 25 Nov 2021 08:00 AM PST If you have fresh or frozen cranberries on hand, you may be wondering how to cook them. Try whipping up a delicious cranberry sauce on your stovetop or roast the cranberries in the oven for a unique spin on the traditional sauce. If you want a decadent treat, try baking cranberries in the oven with a bit of brandy. The most important thing to remember when cooking cranberries is to follow the recommended cook times. If you overcook cranberries, they'll get mushy and bitter! [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Stove-Top Whole Cranberry Sauce - 12 oz (340 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup (200 g) of white granulated sugar
- of water
- 1 strip of orange or lemon zest
- Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Makes about 4 servings [Edit]Oven-Baked Brandied Cranberries - 1 pound (453 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 cups (400 g) of granulated white sugar
- 1 tablespoon (28 g) of orange zest
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of brandy, Grand Marnier, or orange-flavored liqueur
Makes about 4 servings [Edit]Roasted Cranberry Sauce - 24 oz (680 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 cup (200 g) of light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) of finely grated lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) of finely grated orange zest
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of fresh orange juice
Makes 6 to 8 servings [Edit]Stove-Top Whole Cranberry Sauce - Empty 12 oz (340 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries into a large saucepan. Dump the cranberries into a colander and rinse them off thoroughly with plain water. Then, place a large saucepan on a stove burners and pour the berries into the saucepan.[1]
- You may not need to rinse store-bought frozen cranberries, but it wouldn't hurt. If you froze the cranberries yourself, go ahead and rinse them off.[2]
- You don't need to thaw frozen cranberries before you use them.[3]
- Move 1/2 cup (60 g) of cranberries to a bowl and set them aside. Take about ½ cup (60 g) of the cranberries out of the saucepan, put them in a bowl, and leave them in a safe spot on the counter for now. You won't need these until you get to the end of the recipe.[4]
- Add the sugar, orange or lemon zest, and water to the saucepan. Measure out 1 cup (200 g) of white granulated sugar and pour it over the cranberries. Rinse off an orange or a lemon, use a vegetable peeler to remove 1 strip of the rind, and drop the zest into the saucepan. Then, add of water.[5]
- The size of the zest strip is totally up to you.
- Heat the mixture over low heat for about 10 minutes. Stir the mixture every couple of minutes with a wooden spoon or other utensil as it heats up. Continue heating the mixture until the sugar dissolves completely.[6]
- Turn the heat up to medium and cook the mixture for 12 minutes. Remember to stir the cranberries every few minutes to prevent sticking or scorching. Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat until the cranberries burst. This should take about 12 minutes, but be sure to keep an eye on them.[7]
- Continuing to cook cranberries over medium heat after they burst can make them bitter.[8]
- Turn the heat down to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Lower the temperature immediately and grab those reserved cranberries you set aside earlier. Dump them into the saucepan and stir the mixture thoroughly to combine the ingredients.[9]
- If you want the sauce to thicken up a bit, simmer the mixture on low for a couple more minutes until it reaches the desired consistency.[10]
- Add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste and take the pan off the stove. Give the cranberries a quick taste to see what you think. Feel free to add a little more sugar or even salt and pepper until you're happy with the flavor. Then, remove the cranberries from the heat and let them cool to room temperature before you serve them.[11]
- You can store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 1 week.[12]
[Edit]Oven-Baked Brandied Cranberries - Preheat your oven to . Get your oven nice and hot so it's ready to go as soon as you finish putting the dish together.[13]
- Most ovens take 10-15 minutes to fully preheat.
- Place the rinsed cranberries in a baking dish. Put 1 pound (453 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries in a colander and rinse them off with plain water. If you see any bruised or shriveled berries, pick them out and toss them. Then, dump the cranberries into your baking dish.[14]
- Store-bought frozen cranberries may not need to be rinsed, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. If you packed and froze the cranberries yourself, rinse them.[15]
- Don't worry about thawing frozen cranberries before using them. They're ready to go as-is.[16]
- Stir the sugar, orange zest, and a pinch of salt into the cranberries. Measure out 2 cups (400 g) of white sugar and pour it over the cranberries. Zest an orange and add 1 tablespoon (28 g) of the zest to the mixture. Then, add a pinch of kosher salt and stir the ingredients together to combine them.[17]
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake the cranberries for 30 minutes. Slip a piece of aluminum foil over the mouth of the dish and fold it over the edges so it stays in place. Pop the dish into your oven and let the cranberries bake for half an hour.[18]
- You don't need to check on or stir the cranberries during this time.
- Uncover the dish, stir the mixture, and bake it for 10 more minutes. Use an oven mitt to pull out the oven rack. Carefully remove the foil and set it aside. Give the mixture a good stir and pop it back in the oven for about 10 minutes so the mixture can thicken.[19]
- The cranberries are ready to take out when you see them bubbling.
- Stir in the brandy and let the dish sit for 10 minutes before you serve it. Take out the dish and place it on a heat-safe surface. Measure out 1/4 cup (60 ml) of brandy, Grand Marnier, or other orange-flavored liqueur and pour it over the cranberries. Stir the mixture gently and give the cranberries a few minutes to cool off a bit before you serve them.[20]
- Refrigerate leftovers in an air-tight container and enjoy them within a week.[21]
[Edit]Roasted Cranberry Sauce - Position a rack in the upper third of your oven and preheat it to . Adjusting the position of the rack increases the direct heat on the cranberries and gives them that nice roasted flavor. Let your oven preheat to while you put together the rest of the dish.[22]
- Put the rinsed cranberries in a baking dish. Dump 24 ounces (680 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries in a colander. Give the cranberries a quick rinse, toss out any bruised or shriveled ones, and pour the rest into the baking dish.[23]
- Thawing frozen cranberries isn't necessary.[24]
- Stir in the shallot, brown sugar, zest, and orange juice. Thinly slice 1 shallot and drop the slices into the dish. Then, add 1 cup of light brown sugar. Zest the orange and lemon and add 1 teaspoon (4 g) of each. Then, pour in ¼ cup (60 ml) of fresh orange juice and stir to combine the ingredients.[25]
- Roast the cranberries uncovered for 1 hour, stirring them occasionally. Place the baking dish on the top rack in your oven and leave the cranberries to roast for about an hour. Give the mixture a good stir every 20 minutes or so as it cooks. Remove the cranberries once they get soft and the juices thicken in the dish.[26]
- The sauce will get thicker as it cools, so don't worry if the dish looks a little watery after 1 hour.
- Let the dish cool to room temperature before you serve it. The cranberries are very hot after an hour of roasting, so give them plenty of time to cool off. This also gives the sauce a chance to thicken up a bit more before you serve it.[27]
- Store leftover sauce in an air-tight container for about a week in the fridge.[28]
- Always rinse off fresh cranberries and pick out any damaged ones before you cook with them.
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid cooking cranberries for more than a few minutes after they burst open to prevent them from getting bitter.[29]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Stove-Top Whole Cranberry Sauce - Colander
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Small bowl
- Vegetable peeler or zester
- Air-tight container
- Measuring cups and spoons
[Edit]Roasted Cranberry Sauce - Colander
- baking dish
- Wooden spoon
- Vegetable peeler or zester
- Aluminum foil
- Air-tight container
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Oven mitt
[Edit]Oven-Baked Brandied Cranberries - Colander
- baking dish
- Vegetable peeler or zester
- Air-tight container
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Oven mitt
[Edit]References |
| How to Have a Conversation With an Elderly Person Posted: 25 Nov 2021 12:00 AM PST Talking to elderly people can seem intimidating, even if you're normally a chatty person. However, with a little practice and preparation, you'll find that you can talk to older people about almost anything. The key to having a good conversation with an older person – or anyone else – is to keep in mind that they're just a person like you. You can have a great conversation with an elderly person by finding interesting things to talk about, using effective communication techniques, and being sensitive to any communication issues they may have. [Edit]Finding Things to Say - Greet the person. If you already know the person, let them know you're glad to see them by saying hello with a smile. Give them a hug if it's appropriate. If you do not know the person, introduce yourself in a friendly tone of voice and offer a handshake.[1]
- Ask questions. If you don't know what to talk about, ask the person an open-ended question. Elderly people usually like to share their interesting stories and memories with others.[2]
- If the person is a family member, you could ask them about events in your family history or about other family members you never had the opportunity to know.
- If the person is a stranger, you could ask them about their family or what their life was like when they were your age.
- Make small talk. Not every discussion you have with an elderly person needs to be in-depth. Older people enjoy making polite small talk, too. You might use any previous knowledge you have about them or information in your surroundings to make small talk.[3]
- For instance, you might say to your neighbor, "I haven't seen your grandchildren in a while. When's the last time they visited?" Or, you might say, "What sort of books have you read lately, Mr. Henderson?"
- Bring interesting props. If you know ahead of time that you'll be visiting an elderly person, consider bringing something to do or talk about. A few ideas include a family photo album (if you are visiting a family member), music from when the older person was young, or a homemade treat that you can enjoy together.[4]
- Ask for advice. If you're in a sticky situation or you're having trouble making a big decision, consider talking about it with an older person. Elderly people have collected a lot of life experience, and most of them are happy to share their hard-earned wisdom with others. They will probably be flattered that you asked them, too.[5]
- You could say something like, "Uncle Joe, I'm having a hard time choosing between two jobs. Which do you think is more important, making a lot of money or enjoying your work?"
[Edit]Communicating Effectively - Find a good environment to talk. Talk somewhere quiet and calm, where neither you nor the other person will get distracted or overwhelmed. Turn off any radios or televisions in the background so you can hear each other. Sit somewhere the older person can see your face clearly, so they can read your lips if they need to.
- Speak clearly. Enunciate your words distinctly, speak loudly enough to be easily heard, and don't talk too fast. Don't shout at the person, though, unless they ask you to speak up more.[6]
- If the elderly person has trouble following what you're saying, you may need to slow down or use shorter sentences. This doesn't mean you should talk down to the older person, though.
- Provide choices. If you're offering the older person something or trying to find out what they want to do, give them two or three choices. This will give them a sense of control over the situation without overwhelming them with too many options.[7]
- For instance, don't just say, "Where would you like to go today?" Instead, say, "Would you rather go to the park or a coffee shop?"
- Make eye contact. Meet the older person's eyes when they're talking to you, even if you are having a hard time understanding them. Making eye contact shows the person that you're paying attention to them and care about what they're saying.[8]
- Allow the person time to think. During your conversation, the elderly person may need to pause to find the right word, recover their train of thought, or reminisce about something. Wait patiently for them to finish talking. Don't try to complete their sentence for them or find the word they're looking for unless they ask you to.[9]
- Let the person know when you are leaving. If the elderly person has dementia or gets confused easily, make sure they understand when you are leaving. Say goodbye to them and tell them when they can expect to see you again. Giving them a hug or a handshake is another good way to signal the end of the conversation.[10]
[Edit]Being a Sensitive Communicator - Be sensitive to communication problems.[11] Communication often becomes more difficult with age. These difficulties may result from age-related conditions such as hearing and vision loss, physical disabilities, or neurological disorders such as dementia or stroke.[12] Notice whether the person you're talking to is hard of hearing, has memory problems, or otherwise has trouble communicating. Adjust your own communication style so they can participate in the conversation more easily.
- For instance, if the person is having a hard time hearing you, move closer to them and speak more loudly.
- If the person seems to get confused easily, use shorter sentences and be patient as you get your point across.
- If they have memory loss, avoid asking too many questions at once. Also, avoid "why" questions, which may frustrate them.
- If you can, try to find out ahead of time about any communication issues the person may have before you start conversing with them.
- Avoid using "elder speak." Do not use baby talk, a singsong voice, or inappropriately familiar terms of endearment when you talk to an elderly person.[13] Talk to them like you would any other adult. If they show no signs of confusion, there's no need to simplify your vocabulary or over-explain things to them.[14]
- Many older people feel insulted when others talk to them as if they are children, even if those people don't mean any harm.
- Listen carefully as the person talks. Give the elderly person your full attention, even if they ramble. Make sure you're understanding them by asking questions related to what they are saying. Don't look around the room or check your watch while the other person is talking, since that will make you seem bored.[15]
- For instance, if the person mentions living in another country, you could ask them to tell you more about that part of their life.
- Remember that older people are just people like you. Elderly people were once your age, and they've experienced the same feelings and many of the same life events as you. Treat the person with the same respect and courtesy you would expect from others, and look for common ground that will help you connect with each other.[16]
- Think about how you want people to talk to you someday when you are elderly, and use that as a guideline for yourself.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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