Why Aging Parents Flip-Flop on Decisions—and What You Can Do About It
Uncover why Senior Citizens go back and forth on change. Learn practical strategies that encourage collaboration and keep conversations moving forward.
Understand Why Change Feels Possible Today…But Not Tomorrow
We all know that making big or small changes can feel overwhelming—especially for decisive, high-achieving adult children. For senior citizens, change often feels even more uncertain. Balancing finances, future goals, and reflecting on changes in one’s abilities can cause hesitation or pause.
That’s why we teach the Stages of Change—a framework designed to help you understand how change truly unfolds and how to communicate effectively to prevent stalled conversations.
Once you understand this model, you can identify each stage, adapt your communication, and foster meaningful, collaborative conversations about change.
Helping Parents Who Don’t Recognize They Need Support
I often hear, “My parents won’t consider change because they don’t realize it’s needed.”
By understanding the Stages of Change, we can learn to communicate in ways that raise awareness without creating tension or resistance.
Think of it like walking along a cobblestone path at night. A lamppost illuminates one stone, giving you the choice to move in that direction or not.
That’s what I teach—how to introduce the topic neutrally, spark awareness, open a meaningful conversation, and guide families toward collaborative problem-solving.
My parents are strong willed, they will never change
Discussing change with aging parents is never easy. But even the most strong-willed seniors have often already considered it.
The key is creating the right space for collaboration. Strong-willed individuals may be open to change, but when conversations begin with the wrong kinds of questions, they often feel pushed to defend themselves—focusing only on reasons not to change.
This class will help you understand the Stages of Change and how to adapt your communication at each step. You’ll also gain practical scripts and strategies to draw out “change talk” in ways that foster openness, partnership, and progress.
Reviews
Great Reminders!
Amanda Harding
Tami is an Excellent Speaker. She is clear and organized and had important information to share.
Angelica Aguaryo
Transforming Frustration Into Empathy and Connection
FAQs
Who is the class for?
Adults caring for older loved ones, or professionals supporting senior life or housing transitions.
What format is it?
Live 1-hour zoom course conveniently timed to fit into your day.
What will I get?
- 1 hour of live instruction from a seasoned Motivational Interviewing expert.
- Q&A session to get your questions answered.
- A set of ready-to-use conversation companion scripts, drawn from evidence-based Motivational Interviewing. These aren’t rigid formulas—they’re collaborative, flexible responses designed for the real things you hear from older adults every day.
- 2–3 practical scripts for responding to common statements seniors make when facing change.
- 2–3 reflective statement scripts to help you gently move conversations forward, even when they feel stuck.
Become the Respectful Guide Your Loved Ones Need
With communication strategies and practical next steps under your belt, you can help your parent find their way forward as their life changes.
As adult children, it can be frustrating to watch our parents delay important life transitions during a time when proactive planning could make all the difference. We want our loved ones to thrive—not face unnecessary crises in the future.
That’s why I’m passionate about teaching the Stages of Change. This class explores each stage in depth and shows you how to adapt your communication to respectfully guide aging parents through change with confidence and compassion.
