seesaw, the way your uncle interacts is all he really knows. He has learned to ask questions and then whatever he is told gives him something to talk about and he probably adds to that so he can get attention and have something to talk about.

What might help you is "before" you call him write down things you CAN talk about with him so you have something to go by where you can talk about "stuff" but not give him anything he can gossip about. This man is just a lonely guy and not very educated so he ended up gossiping and sharing tidbits about other people he talks to. He is just a lonely man and he is at the end of his life and I am sure he is scared and what he needs most is to feel connections with others so he doesn't feel so alone. He probably did not have much self esteem or care much about himself which is why he failed to take care of himself. Sounds like he basically lived his life through others.