Staff of nursing homes often treat elderly residents as if they were incapable of making decisions or understanding normal patterns of communication (Williams, 2001). Staff communication with residents can be patronizing and demeaning using a language called elderspeak (Grimme, Buchanan, and Afflerback, 2015). Elderspeak is a form of communication directed at older adults which approaches interaction from a juvenile perspective with exaggerated statements and limited vocabulary (Grimme et al., 2015). According to Williams (2001), this pattern of elderspeak communication holds true in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In 2001, Williams began to study how elderspeak patronizes elderly residents and was searching for a theory of communication to empower residents. Williams (2001) found gerotranscendent communication empowers residents rather than patronizing and
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Gerotranscendent communication theory is based on the work by Lars Tornstam (1989) who had begun to rethink the processes of aging and formulated a theory of the later life naming this stage,
Gerotranscendent communication theory is based on the work by Lars Tornstam (1989) who had begun to rethink the processes of aging and formulated a theory of the later life naming this stage,