Infantilization of the elderly not only in the language sphere – research report

Abstract

The presented article concerns the phenomenon of infantilization of the elderly in many areas of everyday by their family carers. Infantilization means treating an adult like a child. In the sphere of language, this phenomenon is called baby-talk. Often infantilization of the elderly concerns the sphere of communication. The author of the article shows that not only during conversations they are treated as children. Family carers showed signs of infantilization, referring to the care and nursing of the elderly under their care. This article is an excerpt from a broader study of family carers for the elderly. The study was conducted with 20 carers of the elderly using the unstructured interview method in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The analysis of the research material was performed using the MAXQDA software. The result of a broad analysis is the research report presented in this study, which shows that infantilization is multidimensional and nonconscious. It results from the lack of preparation of the family carers for the role of a caregiver. Due to their insufficient knowledge about looking after an old person, the careres are forced to base their knowledge on their experience as parents.