Page 193 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2024. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih / Health of Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press

Elderspeak: What is it?

Patricia Bezek, Mateo Lebinec, Dijana Majstorović
Faculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Pula, Croatia

Introduction and purpose: Ageism is present in everyday nursing practice and can some-
times be disguised through humor or claims of advocating for the interests of older
adults. Elderspeak, or infantilizing communication, is a form of interaction often used
by well-intentioned caregivers who may not realize the negative messages and conse-
quences it conveys to the older adults. In this paper, we will describe the communica-
tion practices employed by staff when working with older adults.
Content presentation: First described as “baby talk,” elderspeak is expressed implicit-
ly at both micro and macro levels by nursing staff. It is characterized by the substitu-
tion of collective pronouns, the use of diminutives, repetition, exaggerated intona-
tion, simple vocabulary, reduced grammatical complexity, and inappropriate terms of
endearment (such as “honey,” “baby,” “grandma,” “sweetie,” “dear,” “love”). Often,
when working with the older adults, phrases like “Are we ready for our bath?” are used,
which is inappropriate because the care staff does not bathe with the older adults. In-
stead, asking “Can I help you get ready for a bath?” affirms the older adult as an indi-
vidual with choices and capable of independent action. Elderspeak is most often used
when staff are familiar with the resident and when the resident has a cognitive impair-
ment, especially during activities of daily living. Some of the consequences of this form
of communication include user withdrawal, reduced self-confidence, depression, and posterji | poster presentations
dependence on others. Older adults who can communicate consider this way of com-
munication inappropriate. Furthermore, studies have generally found that nurses who
use elderspeak are viewed more negatively on several traits, such as professionalism,
respect, friendliness, helpfulness, and competence, than nurses who speak neutrally.
Although hidden and often unknown to the speaker, elderspeak is used to control be-
havior, express dependence, limit conversation, and imply a lack of competence. Rec-
ognizing this unacceptable form of communication and providing communication skills
training are recognized interventions for overcoming elderspeak.
Conclusions: Elderspeak, as a veiled form of ageism in everyday interactions with old-
er adults, should be recognized because it can negatively affect their overall social and
psychological health. Although it may seem well-intentioned, replacing it with more ef-
fective forms of communication through various educational initiatives is essential.
Keywords: ageism, communication, elderspeak, nursing care

193