On a busy hospital ward, a nurse says “wonderful, wonderful” as a patient with dementia completes a task. It sounds simple, but moments like this can play an important role in how care gets done.

Building on my doctoral research, a recent study I co-authored with colleagues examines how praise is used in the care of people living with dementia in acute hospitals (which provide short-term treatment for serious illness, injury or urgent medical needs).

This work forms part of my ongoing investigation into elderspeak: speech that is simplified and often includes terms of endearment, a high or sing-song tone, and repeated or exaggerated praise. Elderspeak is typically directed at older adults and is often compared to the way people speak to young children. That has led to debate about whether it is supportive, patronising or insulting.

My previous work on terms of endearment found that words such as “sweetheart” or “love” can sometimes have supportive functions, depending on how they are used. Praise raises a similar question. Can it help care happen, or can it cause trouble?

In this study, we looked at praise in terms of talk that supported, encouraged or strengthened a patient’s action. The data came from a wider body of research examining how to improve communication with people living with dementia on hospital wards.

The research involved video recording, with consent, real-life ward interactions between people living with dementia and healthcare professionals. We then examined how conversations unfolded in practice and how people responded to........

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