1078 - Developing Rapport with Older Adults Made EASY!

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

AllCEUs Counseling CEUs

Health & Fitness, Social Sciences, Education, Science, Self-improvement, Mental Health

4.7 • 667 Ratings

🗓️ 19 September 2025

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

00:00 Introduction & Overview 00:15 Defining Rapport & Its Importance 01:00 Impact of Lacking Rapport 01:50 Meeting Clients Where They Are 02:44 Consistency & Attachment Behaviors 03:42 Building Trust Through Consistency 04:46 Learning About Client Culture 05:32 Validating and Accepting Older Adults 06:18 Gaining Insight Into Client's Background 07:16 Nonverbal Cues & Acceptance 08:06 Generational Differences and Life Experiences 08:46 Emotional Responsiveness & Validation 09:48 Encouragement & Supporting Independence 11:00 Facing Fears & Stepping Out of Comfort Zones 11:46 Environmental Stability & Safety 12:48 Communication: Consistency, Acceptance, Responsiveness 14:07 Overcoming Communication Barriers 15:09 Cognitive Slowing & Allowing Processing Time 15:35 Vision, Hearing, and External Communication Barriers 17:11 Powerlessness, Trauma & Emotional Triggers 18:01 Past Trauma and Current Impact on Communication 19:14 Treatment Engagement and Advocacy 21:25 Connection, Regret, and Finding Meaning 22:27 Cultural and Generational Norms in Questioning Authority 23:28 Fostering Questions & Advocacy for Clients 24:00 Fears About Asking Questions & Being Judged 25:42 Hopelessness, Empowerment & Intervention 26:42 Fears About Losing Control & Institutionalization 27:32 Treatment Non-Compliance & Communication Gaps 28:35 Open Dialogue & Empowering Choices 29:13 Hidden Barriers to Communication 30:12 Communication Basics: Clarity and Directness 31:09 Asking Direct Questions & Advocating for the Client 32:55 Creating Accessible Environments 33:37 Finding Shared Interests & Setting a Positive Mood 34:47 Avoiding Jargon and Ensuring Understanding 35:40 Cultural Sensitivity & Individual Preferences 36:27 Fostering Privacy & Confidentiality 40:23 ACE: Ask, Collaborate, Empower 42:03 Goal-Setting & Addressing Barriers Together 43:01 Motivational Collaboration & Empowerment 44:08 Synergy and Win-Win Solutions 45:54 Effective Communication Techniques 47:48 Frequent Summarizing & Open-Ended Questions 48:47 Pacing Questions and Avoiding Confrontation 49:58 Alternative Perspectives & Teach Backs 51:06 Nonverbal Communication & Engagement 52:15 Dress, Presentation, and Self-Concept 53:05 Physical and Nutritional Health Insights 56:03 Building and Maintaining Rapport 57:14 Reflecting on Rapport in Practice 59:20 Key Takeaways & Applying to Everyday Life 01:00:29 Processing Loss When Rapport Ends 01:03:39 Growing Demand & Training Needs in Elder Care 01:05:32 Certification & Continuing Education Resources 01:05:43 Closing Remarks & Advocacy Tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'd like to welcome everybody to today's presentation on developing rapport with older adults
0:08.1	and those with cognitive impairment. I'm your host, Dr. Donnellyce Snipes.
0:14.0	In today's presentation, we're going to define rapport, explore how lack of rapport
0:19.2	negatively impacts treatment, and identify strategies to
0:22.6	improve communication who have cognitive, vision, or hearing impairments.
0:28.7	So rapport, just at its core, is that sense of safety, connection, and trustworthiness
0:34.6	that we develop with people as we get to know them. Most people are not going to
0:40.3	walk into their therapist's office or their doctor's office or anywhere and have instant rapport.
0:46.6	Every once in a while, you meet somebody that you click with and that rapport develops really
0:51.5	fast, but there is not such a thing as really instant rapport.
0:56.9	I want you to think about how a lack of rapport, how somebody not perceiving you as being
1:02.5	safe, understanding, or trustworthy, how does that impact assessment treatment and them getting
1:09.7	their needs met? And Daniel kind of threw a curveball in
1:15.4	here before class, but I'm going to try to address some of those issues too as far as working
1:22.0	with people in a correctional environment when you don't have rapport. I mean, there's a lot of concern for
1:29.2	your safety. There's a lot of concern for what people think in a lot of different situations.
1:37.9	Developing rapport means meeting the person where they are, emotionally, mentally,
1:44.0	physically, and helping them feel confident that you're
1:47.2	there to help them achieve their goals. You're not there to do things to them. You're not there to
1:53.6	take away their power. You're there to help them achieve their goals in the best way possible
1:59.8	given whatever setting you're in,
2:02.1	whether it's long-term care, nursing home, post-acute care, correctional, you are there to
	...

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