Nursing Assistant Resources On The Web

I was forming an outline for a post about respecting our elderly residents when communicating with them when I came across this article:

From McKnights LTC News:

Sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia don’t like being talked down to any more than healthy, competent adults do, according to new research. So-called “elderspeak” may actually lead to disruptive behavior.

The new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas, found that cognitively impaired nursing home residents react badly when spoken to as if they were infants. Researchers videotaped 20 nursing home residents with moderate dementia to discover their reactions to demeaning dialogue. Residents who were talked down to were twice as likely to resist care—by crying out, hitting, kicking, yelling or other methods—than those who were spoken to as adults.

I have to wonder, with some amusement, how much money they spent on this “study”? It seems to me no research was really needed. This is a dignity issue. It should be common sense.

We have no right to speak to our residents as though they were babies or little children. They are adults. They were once YOUR age; they once had the stamina and energy we all have; many have raised children and worked very hard to provide good homes for their families. They are still people, who have the same thoughts, the same dreams and fears and hopes as we do. While they may be 80 yrs old, in their minds they still feel 20. Some things never change as we age…who among us doesn’t “feel” 18 still?

People with dementia deserve the same level of respect and good manner as those without memory impairment.

Along these same lines, cute little nicknames are just as insulting and disrespectful. As CNA’s, we need to be respectful of our residents and we must never demean them with baby talk and silly nick names. How would you feel? Put yourself in their shoes.