This paper is concerned with the spoken communication of chronically ill and aging residents of long-term care institutions. Spoken communication is a vital component of social interaction and psychological well-being underlying such concepts as isolation, integration, and adjustment; it is a fertile area for investigation and analysis. (Author)

Develops a perspective for studying conversational behavior in geriatric institutions. Considers why conversation is a theoretically significant focus for communications researchers concerned with the aged and presents data from ethnographic studies of two nursing facilities. Data highlight the importance of conversational behavior for…

Young (n=80) and older (n=71) adults evaluated speakers in taped conversation of secondary baby talk or neutral variant addressed to elderly resident in nursing home by nurse or volunteer. Caregivers who used baby talk were rated as significantly less respectful and competent than peers in neutral condition; no differences were observed for…