T2: Navigating Difficult Conversations About Aging

Conversations about aging—such as driving, living independently, health changes, or financial decision-making—are often emotionally charged and deeply personal. For older adults and their loved ones, these discussions can quickly become fraught, leading to defensiveness, conflict, and strained relationships. When handled poorly, they may even contribute to isolation, loss of trust, or increased vulnerability to harm. This interactive workshop equips social workers with practical, relationship-centered frameworks for navigating difficult conversations about aging with empathy, clarity, and shared decision-making. Participants will explore how mindset, preparation, listening, and communication strategies can shift conversations from reactive and adversarial to collaborative and supportive. Through reflection, discussion, and applied tools, attendees will strengthen their ability to facilitate conversations that honor autonomy, preserve dignity, and support safer, more connected outcomes for older adults and their families.