Senior Psychology Help

[excuse me??]

We all have delt with SC's of all ages...

I like older people. I was raised to show respect for them, for many have raised children and fought for our country.


Recently I've had several Seniors that believe that if they keep asking the same question, I will change the answer to what they what to hear.


And its always after the 3rd time (of repeating the same answer) they get pissed off. The other day, after repeating a simple answer twice, I called a manager continue repeating the same answer.

Any suggestions how I can handle this?

[LizaMarie]

I talk to a lot of older people on a daily basis. If someone is having a hard time understanding something, try and simplify it as much as possible. Ok, so say you have an older customer trying to use a coupon that has weird rules to it that the customer doesn't understand you can bend the truth and say it expired. Functionally it comes to the same result, and you save an awful lot of headache and a call to your manager. If you can't do that, or if lying to the elderly is not your bag, then always call a manager.

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

We all have delt with SC's of all ages...

I like older people. I was raised to show respect for them, for many have raised children and fought for our country.

..or their countries? Which would defeat the purpose, I suppose!

/end jerkishness.

[Andara Bledin]

If people aren't getting what you're trying to tell them, change the words you're using. Say the same thing, just differently.

It may seem simple to you, but you already know what you're talking about.

It's like knowing all the stuff going on in the movie 6th Sense. Sure, once you've seen it, it's all glaringly obvious, but before that, it's an enigma.

^-.-^

[Seshat]

If people aren't getting what you're trying to tell them, change the words you're using. Say the same thing, just differently.

I second this. Sometimes I can't understand something phrased one way, but can if you phrase it differently. I also have a weird hearing disorder - some words are just difficult for me to hear. Phrase things differently and you'll probably not use the word I missed.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Sometimes you just have to make stuff up that they WILL understand. I do it all the time, I have a lot of old, and in some cases, senile people in my family. They get confused easily and their memory is shot.

Instead of making them more confused or making them feel stupid, I make up simple lies that have the same conclusion, but are easy to grasp.

I dont tell my Nana I ordered something off ebay when she asks. I tell her got it in a catalog. Or at an auction. She can't even grasp what a computer is, the Ebay concept would make her brain blow a fuse.

Why can't she use a Jergins coupon for a Dove product? It's expired.

Why can't she drive her car (she can't remember she can't, if that makes sense.)? Oh, it needs to be fixed and will cost a thousand bucks. Just let so and so drive you. (the truth is that the distributor cap is sitting on my dad's dresser.)

Sometimes you have to deal with them the way you would a child. It's a kindness, really, if you can avoid making them feel confused or dumb.

[wanderingjoe72]

Love your thinking Kinkoid

Great thoughts there.

We recently had my GFs Grandmother stay with us for a few days and she has Alzheimers. I find that simplifying phrases works great.

I'm going to have to use some of your suggestions.

[gunsage]

Me: "Sir, you can't park there. VIP only."
Senior Customer: "But...but I'm old! Please, just for a little while?"
Me: "Sorry, rules are rules."
SC: "Oh, come on, just for a little while? It'll only be a minute!"
Me: "Sorry, no."
SC: "Oh, please!"
Me: "CONGRATULATIONS! YES, YOU MAY PARK HERE!"
SC: "R-really?"
Me: "NO! Now roll it before I dial Camcar!"

I thought you were old, not a five year old. Thinking that somehow someone will bend because you continue to ask the same question is ludicrous and rude, regardless of age. This reminds me of a situation that occurred at a gas station I worked at. Here's the setting...it's just me and a dude I'm training on third shift literal MINUTES after I locked up the coolers. Jackhole McDouchebag Supreme III walks in, shakes the handle to the coolers for a second, then comes up to the counter with his buddies...

Me: "Yes, can I help you?"
SC: "Yeah! Hey man, there's a wedding tomorrow and my bro's bachelor party tonight!"
Me: "...And?"
SC: "Well, I really REALLY need to get some alcohol for the party!"
Me: "...And?"
SC: "Come on, man! Sell me some hooch!"
Me: "Nope, Ohio law...past 1. Sorry."
SC's buddy: "Oh come on. It's not like anyone will know!"
Me: "Those cameras will." *point to cameras* "He will." *points to coworker who's now quite confused* "I will." *points to self*
SC: "Ah come on...alright alright...how does $100 sound?"

HE THREW DOWN A BENJAMIN.

Me: "Nope, sorry. It's the law."
SC: "Oh, I see how it is..."

HE THREW DOWN BENJAMIN'S TWIN BROTHER.

Me: "I am sorry, sir."
SC: "You can't be serious! Okay..."

HE THREW DOWN BENJAMIN'S CLONE.

Me: "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave if there's nothing further."

I should like to point out he still had MORE CASH ready to throw down. My coworker's eyes were ready to bulge out of his head. We argued a bit, I threatened to call the police. He made the excuse of being a lawyer to which retorted that he should know the law, he acted pissy and left.

Now, you might wonder why I stated he ACTED pissy...not GOT pissy. Yes, if you did your detective work just now, you already know. The guy was a COP. Not only that, but after discussing the events with my coworker shortly after the guy left, he said...

CW: "Man, if that was ME? I'd have taken the money!"
Me: "I'm sure. However, like I said, there are cameras. Even if it took them a while, you'da been busted."
CW: "Well...yeah, true. Still, man."
Me: "Still nothing! Bet they were cops, anyway. They do that crap all the time in this neighborhood. Who do you think I replaced, anyway?"
CW: "Uhhh..."
Me: "Someone who got busted THE SAME DAY for what I would've JUST gotten busted for."
CW: "Oh ****."
Me: "My sentiments exactly."

The funny part is a different group of "bachelor party dudes" came in later and tried the same stunt. My coworker asked them if they were cops and they shakily said "Uhh, no." They left pretty quickly. Fun stuff.

[bainsidhe]

We all have delt with SC's of all ages...

Recently I've had several Seniors that believe that if they keep asking the same question, I will change the answer to what they what to hear.

Hmm, perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but I think the poster is saying the seniors want the answer to change, not that they are having a hard time understanding the answer. The problem lies in that it isn't the answer they want to hear. After all, aren't many of the posts in this forum because SCs don't like being told "no".

Just my two cents.