Bad habit of talking to the elderly like a child

Paula Cordoba Allegri and Marina Francine Gallego, “Dialogue”
Way of speaking Elderly It’s as if they are children It has its own term in the Anglo-Saxon world: Words from the Elderswhich can be translated as “the language of the elderly.”

Although often well-intentioned, it can hurt feelings and affect Self-esteem of the interlocutor.

When we use this communication mode, we raise our voice, slow down and mark our pronunciation, use short phrases and use Small wordsbecause we believe that older people will not be able to follow dialogue.

also, Words from the Elders It is characterized by a simple vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and is filled with overly affectionate nicknames, closed questions, repetition of concepts, and repeated use of the first-person plural.

Photo: Canva

Ultimately, this isn’t much different than what we adults call babies, which is called Mother Language o Infant Directed Speech.

While this expression is used more often in hospital or medical settings, especially by primary caregivers and nursing staff, it is also commonly used by immediate family members, friends of the elderly, and even strangers.

Indeed, in cases of dementia or dementia, changes in the register of communication may be beneficial and aid comprehension. Cognitive impairmentbut in general, it can bring negative consequences, such as decreased self-esteem or feelings of being degraded, ashamed and humiliated. When older people are constantly infantilized, they are even at risk of falling into depression.

It is important that health professionals and caregivers are aware and trained to treat older people appropriately.

For example, training programs Changing the conversation (CHAT) – created by a multidisciplinary team including Kristine Williams, a professor of nursing at the University of Kansas – to teach Communication Strategy Chatting has been shown to be effective in increasing confidence and satisfaction among professionals caring for older people, fostering a more focused relationship with the person in front of them.

In order to get a Effective communication For older people, to avoid overusing elder slang, we can follow these tips:

1. Respect. We avoid overly affectionate terms such as “dear,” “heaven,” “honey,” etc. when used out of context.

2. Empathy and understanding. Active listening is essential, even if seniors sometimes find it difficult to express their thoughts or understand them. We will avoid intrusive interruptions that may exacerbate your frustration.

3. Communication styles vary from person to person. Since each person is different, the rhythm and language must be adjusted to their specific needs. We must always be aware of signs that our interlocutor is uncomfortable with the way we speak.

4. Involve them in decision making. A very common mistake that affects the emotions of the elderly is to make decisions for them as if they were not present. We must always ask for their opinions and preferences and always try to respect their choices. This will make them feel useful.

5. Patience. This is key to achieving effective communication with the person in front of us and making them feel comfortable.

Let us not forget elder They play an important role in our society and it is important to be able to listen to and learn from their opinions, values ​​and stories. It is crucial for them and for us to create an optimal communication environment.