The key to managing any form of conflict is communication. And, when it comes to caring for the elderly – especially those with any degree of dementia – this key is hard to attain.

But the caregiving “angels” whose life work revolves around elder caregiving are gathering next week in the Wisconsin Dells for the 29^th Annual Wisconsin Network Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

I am privileged to be presenting a workshop entitled, “Empathic Listening: Key to Personal Connections.”

I will spell out some details of my presentation next week but it will revolve around the idea that we can make a major difference by the simple act of sitting still and listening to another – no matter how communicationally-challenged they may be.

A great listener’s biggest challenge often is simply sitting still and sitting quietly with another.

Stay tuned – more to come about this conference and my message there next week.