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Don't call me sweetie! Why we should never use 'elderspeak' to talk down to dementia patients
daily mail uk ^ | march 24, 2017 | Mary Kekatos For Dailymail.com

Posted on 03/24/2017 12:44:02 PM PDT by Morgana

We might think names like 'sweetie' or 'dear' are terms of endearment.

But what seems like a kind gesture may actually be taken as patronizing, a new study finds.

Scientists say elderly sufferers of dementia are often exposed to 'elderspeak' - a loud and slow form of baby talk for seniors.

This makes them feel like they are incompetent and can lead to a downward spiral of social isolation and cognitive decline.

Researchers studied nuns at a Midwestern convent and fount a very different approach - one that brightened the spirits of their suffering sisters.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture; Religion & Science
KEYWORDS: convent; dementia; nuns
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Now you all are wondering why I posted this in the Religion Forum.

It has to do with a Convent of Nuns and how they handle dementia patients.

1 posted on 03/24/2017 12:44:02 PM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

How are we doing today?


2 posted on 03/24/2017 12:48:30 PM PDT by Mr. Douglas (Best. Election. EVER!)
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To: Mr. Douglas

I so hate that too!!

What am I the Queen of England??? “We are NOT amused!!”


3 posted on 03/24/2017 12:50:05 PM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana

I like it when I’m called Sweetie. I do.


4 posted on 03/24/2017 12:50:35 PM PDT by thatdewd (I'm tired of watching stupid people do stupid things stupidly.)
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To: Morgana

Nuns are indeed “sisters” in everything but the biological sense. There is a real sense of shared community, family, and responsibility towards one-another.

I went to a school with many nuns as teachers. The common stereotype is only true to someone who doesn’t understand them. They were strict, but never shrill or overbearing. But they had high expectations for all of us - they literally wanted and, with their guidance, hoped every one of us could achieve Sainthood (which is the ultimate calling of every Christian).


5 posted on 03/24/2017 12:51:10 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: thatdewd

Okay Honey Child!


6 posted on 03/24/2017 12:51:40 PM PDT by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana

Ok Sugar Dumplin’s


7 posted on 03/24/2017 12:57:49 PM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: Morgana

” . . what seems like a kind gesture may actually be taken as patronizing, a new study finds.”

Please, Social Scientists.

Please give us a little credit for having thought of this before you, all on our own.

Without a government-funded study.

It’s possible we have, you know.

And there’s a possibility, which you might study with another government-funded grant, that we migrate towards the tone of voice that has the maximum effectiveness with maximum efficiency.

Instead of speaking in our normal tone and having our elders constantly asking us “What?” repeatedly, we simplify our speech patterns and complexity, and raise our tone of voice, to convey the most information in the most economical fashion. And old-times seem to like it, by the way. The conversation progresses without getting bogged down with repetition and frustration.

How many of these researchers have old people in their own family, I wonder?


8 posted on 03/24/2017 12:57:49 PM PDT by Chad N. Freud (FR is the modern equivalent of the Committees of Correspondence. Let other analogies arise.)
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To: All

And you waitresses can stop calling me “honey” or “sweetie”. If you think it’ll get you a bigger tip, it won’t.
Totally patronizing and I hate it.
So just stop it.

“Sir” or “Grouchy” is fine and/or appropriate.


9 posted on 03/24/2017 1:05:21 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: Morgana

So elders suffering from dementia are all wrapped up in faked outrage like a 23 year old liberal college student? I suppose we better take care to address their gender preferences as well.

Bulls**t.


10 posted on 03/24/2017 1:08:47 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (Apoplectic is where we want them!)
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To: Morgana

[[What am I the Queen of England??? “We are NOT amused!!”]]

That’s ok sweetie, we won’t do it anymore


11 posted on 03/24/2017 1:10:51 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: PGR88

I was taught by Scranton IHMs. Several were nice. Most of them were overwhelmed, crabby, and cruel.

Creating religious orders to provide Catholic parents with cheap daycare was one of the two or three worst blunders made by the Church in America.


12 posted on 03/24/2017 1:11:47 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan (https://youtu.be/IYUYya6bPGw)
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To: PGR88; All
I went to a school with many nuns as teachers. The common stereotype is only true to someone who doesn’t understand them. They were strict, but never shrill or overbearing. But they had high expectations for all of us - they literally wanted and, with their guidance, hoped every one of us could achieve Sainthood (which is the ultimate calling of every Christian).

Amen! The nuns who educated me, both in Georgetown, SC (God bless you Sister Anne Gabriel) and in Denver, Co (ditto Sister Lawrence Marie, Sister Mary Ligouri, Sister Anna, Sister Mary Aquin, Sister Eileen Whistler, Sister Mary Catherine, Sister Mary Carroll, Sister Cleopha et al) were the most selfless, holy people I have ever met...much more so than most of the priests I grew up around...one who actually carried a gun to protect his bingo winnings late Saturday nights! These beautiful sisters would do anything for their students and asked NOTHING in return. They were truly as close to the saints as anyone I ever met.
13 posted on 03/24/2017 1:12:37 PM PDT by notdownwidems (Washington D.C. has become the enemy of free people everywhere!)
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To: John Milner

And don’t ever call my by my first name.
Mr. K is fine or Sir.


14 posted on 03/24/2017 1:13:00 PM PDT by BuffaloJack ("If you're going through Hell, keep going." Winston Churchill)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

[[So elders suffering from dementia are all wrapped up in faked outrage like a 23 year old liberal college student?]]

No- they have dementia- and likely can’t help how they feel- They revert to their teen years, or early adulthood in many cases- when they used to not like being called that-

We do have to remember that dementia patients can’t help how they feel- unfortunately- but folks who have to care for them often take what dementia patients say personally- but it’s not personal- their minds aren’t normal


15 posted on 03/24/2017 1:13:53 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: Morgana

Why not just tailor it to fit the dementia sufferer. I know folks for whom the style works, and folks for whom it doesn’t. Tailor your interaction to suit the needs, likes, preferences of the person with dementia.


16 posted on 03/24/2017 1:14:49 PM PDT by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: John Milner

I am 61. I run a 5K three times a week. I am an ACE certified fitness trainer and I run at least two 10ks a year. I am also TRX certified. My hair is white, so every young person under the age of 40 feels compelled to call me sweetie, honey, baby, or some other baby name. I make sure they know they are being insulting. Or I call them sweetie or honey right back. Nothing riles me more.


17 posted on 03/24/2017 1:15:15 PM PDT by freepertoo
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To: John Milner

Yeah- it just sounds so fake- especially coming from younger people=- it makes them sound like they are attention seekers- which noone likes-


18 posted on 03/24/2017 1:15:30 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: freepertoo

[[I am 61. I run a 5K three times a week.]]

HA! I’ve got you beat! I’m not quite 61- but I run to the bathroom 5K times a day-


19 posted on 03/24/2017 1:16:57 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: Morgana

when ever a waitress / female sales clerk calls me “hon”, I always remind them I am not a German.


20 posted on 03/24/2017 1:17:02 PM PDT by llevrok (A group of baboons is called a "congress." Just sayin' .....)
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