Coaching Older People

At some point in life, we will all pause to reflect and slowly turn around to see the path we have taken. We may do it as a way of remembering how we got to be where we are or to help us plan for where we would like to head next.

But no matter what the reason to pause and reflect, it can be an ideal opportunity to think about the many things we set out to achieve or accomplish in life and how we prepare ourselves for what still remains to be done.

Coaching can add some real value in this type of situation and allocating time for personal reflection between coaching sessions can be the key to success. Especially when working with somebody who is reflecting on their life and considering what they would like the next chapter to be.

Because of the range of topics older people will normally like to discuss in their coaching sessions, it can be better to meet less frequently but over a longer period of time. This enables the initial focus to be on reviewing any outdated vision they may have of themselves. You can then encourage your client to develop a new updated vision of who they are and what they are capable of achieving.

Frequently discussed themes when coaching older people

Planning for major life events or future projects
Continuing to work or starting to volunteer
Managing their savings and weekly budget
Enjoying more free time and planning social activities
Getting physical and ageing gracefully

You may also be asked to provide support to:

Address any uncertainty of the future and manage anxieties related to change
Maintain a positive outlook on life and work through any major life changes
Preserve self-confidence and positive self-image
Challenge any negative beliefs relating to the aging process
Build a range of meaningful life projects

But coaching is more than just having a supportive conversation, so one great tool to use when coaching older people is to ask them strategic questions. Strategy can be the art of leading and co-ordinating actions to achieve a goal, so we will often use this technique to support our clients to look at their life. Then by looking into the future they can understand what help or support they will need to get to where they want to go. This approach can help uncover goals or life projects that provide much-needed motivation.

Without even realizing it, some people simply get stuck in a routine and find it difficult to make progress in life. However, with your help, any older people you work with can learn to think differently about the ageing process and start to write the next chapter of their life as they plan towards a successful retirement.

Coaching Older People