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Care workers who interact with older adults every day may often wonder what topics will get a good conversation going.
Sometimes, you might even find yourself at a loss for words.
However, casual conversations with seniors can be valuable opportunities to build communication, so it’s helpful to be able to talk smoothly.
In this article, we’ll introduce questions and topics that can spark lively conversations when talking with older adults.
If you’re struggling with communication with seniors, please use this as a reference.
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[For Seniors] Conversation starters that help with chats: engaging questions and topics (1–10)
First love memories
When did you first fall in love? For some it was a preschool teacher, for others a classmate at school—the answers vary from person to person.
So today, let’s introduce a conversation topic that tends to get lively with older adults: “memories of first love.” Men might feel a bit shy about it, but it’s a topic many women enjoy.
You’ll hear stories like, “There was a wonderful older boy in my neighborhood,” or “Someone a year above me at the same school,” each sharing their own memories.
When bringing it up, start by sharing your own experience and then ask the next person—this helps the conversation flow.
What I remember from old TV shows is
In today’s world, slim and vivid LCD TVs are the norm, but a few decades ago, bulky cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions were mainstream, and up until the 1960s many TVs were black-and-white.
With that in mind, here’s a conversation topic you can use when interacting with older adults: “What television programs from the past left a strong impression on you?” Nowadays we have all kinds of shows—music programs, variety shows, travel shows—but what were TV programs like back then? By asking, you might also learn about the person’s preferences, such as their favorite singers or actors.
The home-cooked dishes I often make are
Under the title “Our Family’s Signature Flavors,” shall we all talk about the home-cooked dishes we make most often? From simple fare to elaborate meals, dishes that use carefully selected ingredients, or family favorites—your answers will likely vary greatly depending on the purpose of the cooking and who you’re making it for.
The theme of “dishes we often cook at home” can also lead to topics like how you make them and “In our house, we…”.
Hearing everyone’s ideas—full of wisdom and clever tricks—and trying them out yourself is part of the fun, too.
Childhood story
Tips for communication are covered in many places, like books and the internet.
Among them, one effective topic is “stories from childhood.” Why is that? The answer is simple: older adults have all experienced being children.
You can’t talk about things you don’t know or aren’t interested in, but you can talk about what you’ve lived through.
For instance, you might say, “Kids nowadays seem to play like this.
When I was a kid, I played such-and-such.” If you share a recent example or your own experience, they’ll likely respond with, “When I was a child…” and tell you their stories.
What I enjoy doing with my grandchild is
Grandchildren are the kind of presence that makes grandpas and grandmas naturally squint their eyes with joy.
For most people, their precious, adorable grandchildren are so dear that they’d say they’re “not even a pain to have in their eye.” How about we all talk about the things you enjoy doing together with your grandchildren? Do you go along with what they like—watching their favorite TV shows, coloring, taking walks—or do you draw on your life experience to offer stimulating activities you think they’ll enjoy? We might just get a glimpse of everyone’s grandpa power and grandma power through this discussion.
Memories of summer vacations from long ago
Summer vacation has always been one of the things children look forward to most, both now and in the past.
This time, as a conversation theme with older adults, we’d like to introduce “Memories of Summer Vacation in the Old Days.” Mornings started with radio calisthenics, followed by school pool time, catching insects and fishing—fun memories of playing in nature and with friends.
At the same time, some children helped with the family business, looked after younger siblings, and supported the household as valuable helping hands.
There’s much to learn from the experiences of older generations, so take this opportunity to ask them about their stories!
What past trends or fads left a strong impression on you?
These days, with the internet at the center of our lives, all kinds of information are shared on social media, and trends take shape at an incredible speed.
So this time, as a conversation topic to liven up chats with older people, we’d like to suggest: “What past fads or booms left a strong impression on you?” Back when entertainment wasn’t as abundant as it is now, popular movies and songs had a powerful influence, and hit songs of the time were so popular that “everyone in the country could sing them.” Give it a try in your conversations!