In the emotionally complex world of dementia care, communication is more than just what we say – it’s how we say it. Terms of endearment like “darling”, “my lovely” and “sweetheart” are often used by healthcare staff with the best intentions: to comfort, connect and show warmth. But some people believe that elderspeak may sound patronising.
For my doctoral research, I collaborated with a team of researchers who study real-life acute hospital interactions by examining video recordings of how healthcare professionals communicate with dementia patients. The researchers use these insights to develop training programs for healthcare workers.
