Anti-Aging Tip: Avoid Elderspeak

How do people talk to older adults? A piece in the New York Times just ran an article that outlined some research that proves that when older adults are condescended to, called "sweetie" or "good girl" by healthcare workers (or family) their health was harmed. It's called "elderspeak" and it often sounds a lot like the "toddler speak" I engage with daily as a parent. It seems that everyone from bank tellers to healthcare workers may use "elderspeak". What "elderspeak" does is it fills interactions with tiny burst of negativity, reinforcing the overall idea that aging is bad. This matters a great deal, because researchers have found that people who have a positive image about aging tend to live around 7.5 years longer than those with a negative image of aging. If you have experienced "elderspeak" use the comments link below to tell your story. For those of us who are pre-elders, let's pledge to pay attention to how we talk to people older than us and leave off the pandering, condescending comments.

Must Read: Think Positive, Live Longer

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