Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Enhancing communication with older adults: overcoming elderspeak
Kristine Williams1, Susan Kemper, Mary Lee Hummert
1University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City 66160, USA.
Abstract:
Gerontological nurses promote health and successful aging for a growing population of older adults. Care providers unknowingly may communicate messages of dependence, incompetence, and control to older adults by using elderspeak, a speech style similar to baby talk, that fails to communicate appropriate respect. This article describes a communication training program that significantly reduced the use of elderspeak by nursing assistants and led t more respectful, less controlling, and equally as caring communication between nursing assistants and nursing home residents. Strategies to use in evaluating and enhancing interpersonal communication with older clients are provided. Therapeutic communication is a critical tool for nurses who provide health care to the growing populati of older adults.
Related Concept Videos
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Barriers to Effective Communication I
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
Therapeutic Communication
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
