Turns out that "elderspeak" irritates many older people so much that it can actually make them sick.
Elderspeak describes the belittling form of address to older people which includes sprinkling in pseudo-endearments ("Sweetie," "Dear"), speaking in a louder than normal voice, and assuming the person is not competent (about computers, to order food, etc.). Today's New York Times reports that "Those little insults can lead to more negative images of aging . . .. And those who have more negative images of aging have worse functional health over time, including lower rates of survival.”
Health care workers, apparently, are the worse offenders, putting people in nursing homes in a precarious situation. Tolerate the elderspeak, and they may fume. Speak out against it aggressively, and they may receive less care.
You can read the whole article at "In ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Dear,’ a Hurt for the Elderly."
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