Watch what happens at your next family gathering when a new mother places her baby in someone’s arms. The person will likely shift automatically into baby mode: a sing-song, high-pitched voice, overly-simplified speech, and exaggerated facial expressions. Of course, this is perfectly normal and actually advantageous to an infant’s developing brain.
Hopefully, however, when that child’s great-grandmother enters the room, family members avoid reacting similarly. However it happens so frequently, and can be so damaging to seniors, that there is a word to describe it: elderspeak.
A recent study by Susan Kemper, a professor who specializes in gerontology at the University of Kansas, paired senior listeners with younger speakers. In spite of the seniors’ instructions just to listen without interrupting while the younger people spoke to them – thus leaving no hint to the speakers that they were experiencing any challenges understanding what was being said – overwhelmingly, the speakers resorted to elderspeak.
It’s worthwhile to note as well that older adults consistently refrain from using elderspeak with each other. Research has shown that for many older adults, elderspeak conveys superiority and a cold attitude.
Why It’s Harmful
Simply put, elderspeak can be considered belittling and patronizing. It conveys feelings of inferiority and incompetency to older adults, rather than the respect and admiration they deserve. While typically well-meaning and intended to express endearment, it often has the reverse effect.
What to Do Instead
- Carefully consider how to address the senior loved ones that you know. Many seniors find terms like “young lady,” “honey,” or “dearie” to be offensive.
- Use proper care when modifying the way you communicate with a senior in accordance with individual need. For instance, speaking clearly and slowly while facing an older adult with hearing loss is helpful. A high-pitched voice, however, can in fact further distort the words. A senior loved one with memory issues can better follow the conversation if it’s broken down into simple, short sentences and yes-or-no questions. This can easily be accomplished without resorting to baby talk.
- Remember there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as every person has unique preferences and challenges. An open and honest conversation with the person about how they would like to be addressed and spoken to is the ideal path to ensure you’re engaging with them appropriately.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care, providers of expert Elmhurst home care services, places a great emphasis on respectful interactions with each and every older adult within our care. Email or call us at 630.323.4665 for an in-home consultation to discover more about how we can help promote independence for seniors with customized in-home support.