I was interested to read the results of a new study on trust that targeted the elderly segment of our population. I think many of us tend to believe that an individual's level of trust tends to decrease with age. However, that is not what this study found. The sutdy followed individuals of three different generations and it revealed that trust tends to increase, rather than diminish, as people grow older.
Claudia Haase, a co-author of the study, said, "Our new findings show that trust increases as people get older and, moreover, that people who trust more are also more likely to experience increases in happiness over time." Although this increase in trust might lead an older person to become a victim of a fraud or a scam, there is not any evidence that such negative outcomes diminish the positive effects of trust, and there is a correlation between trust and well being. (See reference below.) I found this to be encouraging news!
However, when we work in the helping professions, we are bound to encounter some individuals--whether they are elderly or younger--who are reluctant to trust us, for one reason or another. Sometimes this can make it difficult when we are trying to help them with issues or concerns. If an individual does not really trust our judgments or have confidence in us, he or she may resist the help we offer them. How, then, can we work at increasing the level of trust when we find ourselves in such a situation?
In thinking about how to answer this question, I came up with an acronym based on the word "TRUST". I think it might be a useful guideline on how to build trust with another person as a helping professional. The first word is "Truthfulness". In order to gain the trust of someone we are trying to help, we need to be honest about who we are and what we can, and cannot, do for them--and we need to be ourselves. The second word is "Respect". Regarding each individual as a person with specific abilities, needs, circumstances, and preferences is very important. We are not in charge of anyone's decisions, nor should we try to usurp that role. The third word is "Understanding". Even when we do not fully understand where the other person is coming from, we need to have an attitude of openness and of attempting to understand them as much as we can. The fourth word is "Support". When we are assisting someone as a helping professional, we need to empower them by giving them appropriate information, by offering emotional support when we can, and by sticking with them throughout the helping process. The last word is "Time". Trust does not always happen right away. If an individual initially rejects our offer of help, that may change if we are willing to wait, give that person space, and take every opportunity to build up trust, without being pushy. Remembering these five words and trying to practice them might help us to facilitate the process of building trust.
When we, as helping professionals, find ourselves in a situation where trust is lacking, let us be patient and remain open. Perhaps the moment is not quite right and, with a little more time, the door will open and the trust will be there.
Quote and information taken from "Trust Increases with Age, Benefits Well Being: New Research Suggests a Bright Side to Getting Older", by Julie Deardorff, March 18, 2015, found online at http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2015/3 .
