Questions to Ask an Elderly Person About Life

Sometimes, it can be difficult to start conversations with our elderly loved ones. Depending on the length of the age gap, it can feel like you have very little in common. It can be even harder if you are their primary caregiver and you see them every day – there are only so many times you can discuss the weather and what’s on TV.

Having a supply of questions for seniors in your back pocket can be a great way to engage them in conversation. You know your elderly loved ones have a wealth of memories and life experiences that they likely want to share – it is just a matter of asking the right questions.

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Questions to Ask Elderly People

Asking your elderly loved ones meaningful questions can not only spark conversation but also help you build a deeper connection. There are many great questions to ask seniors to help you learn their life story. Some of them are:

• What do you know about your family history? This can include heritage, such as where your family lived before they came to America, or more specific details about recent family members. Maybe there is some family drama in the past your loved one is dying to share!
• What was your first job? What was your favorite job? Listening to our loved ones recount jobs they had in the past is a glimpse into how much has changed in our world over the past several decades. Many a grandmother may have been a secretary or stay-at-home mom. Many a grandfather may have held one job for their entire life or they may have had a variety of different jobs they want to discuss with you. 
• What do you remember about the place you grew up? This is a great question if your loved one lives far away from where they grew up, but even if not, there is always reminiscing to be done when they remember what their town was like in the past. 
• What is your favorite childhood memory? Helping seniors reminisce about their favorite memories is actually very helpful for their mental health as they age. It helps them remember who they were and what they loved and helps them ward off depression. 
• Did you have any great pets? Who doesn’t love sharing memories about their furry friends? This can also be a great way to connect as you share stories about your own pets. 
• What was popular when you were younger? What type of music did you listen to? What type of clothes did you wear? We all know fads change over the years – the popular music of the 1970’s is vastly different from the pop tunes of the 1990’s, which is also different from popular music today. You may even walk in wearing something your loved one remembers for their youth since we know styles tend to come back around!
• If you could go back to one year, which one would it be and why? When chatting with your loved one, you don’t only have to ask them questions about themselves – unless you want to, of course. You can also ask them hypothetical questions that get you both thinking. 
• What is one thing you got in trouble for? A similar question could be, Tell me something that would shock me. Be prepared for some crazy answers to this one! Sometimes we forget that there was still trouble to be found even before the Internet – and often our elderly loved ones found it. 

Remember that you aren’t necessarily interviewing your loved one, you just want to start some conversation and learn more about them. Your goal is to deepen your connection to them, learn about them, and help them feel less lonely. Don’t be afraid to share things about yourself as well. There is always more for us to learn about each other.

To learn about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.