Insights
Provider–Patient Interaction: Exploring Elderspeak in Simulated Preclinical Chiropractic Student Encounters (Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 2020)
This research article examines how elderspeak appears in simulated provider–patient encounters. The study analyzed 60 recordings and found 331 instances of elderspeak, with collective pronoun use being the most common. Since publication, the research has been featured in the VOYCE webinar “Professional Education: Eliminating Elder‑Speak Through Compassionate Communication".
The Role of a Doula
(VOYCE STL Blog, 2021)
This featured blog post introduces elderhood doulas and repositions the doula role beyond death care to include aging and grief navigation. It outlines how doulas support emotional, spiritual, and practical transitions for individuals and families. The piece has been referenced in hospice trainings, caregiver education, and community conversations around aging with dignity.
We’re At The Age Podcast – Episode 6 (VOYCE, 2025)
In this podcast episode, Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell joins hosts Melody and Marjorie for an honest conversation about death, grief, and the supportive role of death doulas. The episode explores how families can approach end-of-life planning with clarity, compassion, and care. Dr. Cockrell offers practical insight on grief rituals, legacy preservation, and the importance of documenting one’s wishes. The episode has been shared widely as a resource for grief-informed education and community dialogue.
The Power of Intergenerational Connection
(Generations, 2022)
This published article explores the public health value of intergenerational connection as both a resilience strategy and a design principle for aging futures. It introduces practical frameworks that center equity, narrative healing, and relational strength across generations. The piece builds upon Leaves Speak’s Elderpeak™ research and continues to be referenced by educators, doulas, and aging services professionals committed to systems-level change.
The Interplay of Aging and the Social Determinants of Health
(VOYCE STL Blog, 2021)
This article explores how non-medical factors such as housing, income, and social connection influence the aging process. It introduces readers to upstream approaches and emphasizes the importance of addressing health inequities through dignity-centered, community-based solutions. The piece has been cited in advocacy campaigns and incorporated into equity-focused trainings on elder care.
Cited in Loving Her to the End (Ukarumpa International School - Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, 2024)
This reflective academic paper explores embodied caregiving and the sacred act of walking with a loved one through end-of-life. Dr. Maurya Dominica Cockrell’s 2022 work is cited to support the health benefits of intergenerational interaction. Her frameworks contributed to the author's growing awareness of elder care needs, demonstrating global reach and impact in shaping cross-cultural caregiving practices.
Cited in Church-Based Research: Allen Chapel AME Church – Becoming a Healthy Intergenerational Twenty-First Century Church (Asbury Theological Seminary – Wilmore, Kentucky, 2024)
This research study examines how Allen Chapel AME Church is evolving to meet the spiritual, emotional, and communal needs of an intergenerational congregation. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s work on aging, grief literacy, and intergenerational care is referenced as a guiding influence in shaping the church’s approach to holistic ministry. Her frameworks are used to inform practices that bridge generational gaps and strengthen spiritual care across the lifespan.
Cited in: Understanding Elderspeak: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis (The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in partnership with Oxford University Press, Innovation in Aging, 2021)
Published by Oxford University Press for the Gerontological Society of America, this article explores the development of the term “elderspeak” within healthcare communication. It examines linguistic patterns that, while intended to comfort, may contribute to ageist messaging. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s research is cited for insights into how collective language choices influence care dynamics. The article affirms the need for interdisciplinary training in age-affirming, person-centered communication practices.
Cited in: Measuring Speech Accommodation for Older Adults: A Scoping Review (Journal of Language and Aging Research, Hamburg University Press, 2025)
This scoping review synthesizes over six decades of research on how younger adults adjust their communication styles when interacting with older adults. These speech accommodations include changes in tone, pitch, pace, and vocabulary, often leading to what is known as elderspeak. The review analyzes 114 studies, revealing that field studies are the most frequently used research method in this domain. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2020 study on provider–patient interactions in simulated chiropractic encounters is cited as a key example of field-based research that captures real-world expressions of speech modification toward older adults. The findings underscore the need for future research using neuroscience tools and individualized assessments to better understand how language accommodations impact older adults' autonomy, dignity, and cognitive engagement.
Cited in A Call to Action: Advancing Research, Practice, and Policy for Middle-Aged and Older Transgender and Nonbinary Communities
(International Journal of Transgender Health, 2025)
This international article highlights the urgent need for culturally responsive care and policy reform supporting older transgender and nonbinary adults. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2022 research is cited for its emphasis on intergenerational healing and navigating adversity across the lifespan. Her frameworks help inform the article’s call for affirming, grief-literate, and elder-centered education within health professions. The piece underscores how older adults can guide youth while shaping inclusive aging policies.
Cited in: Characteristics of Elderspeak Communication in Hospital Dementia Care: Findings from The Nurse Talk Observational Study (International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2022)
This study explores how nurses communicate with hospitalized persons living with dementia, focusing on the presence and impact of elderspeak. Elderspeak includes infantilizing language such as calling patients "sweetie" or substituting "we" for "you" during care interactions. These patterns can lead to resistance, discomfort, or rejection of care. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2020 research on provider–patient interactions in simulated chiropractic settings is cited as foundational to understanding how elderspeak appears in clinical education. The study highlights the need for training in respectful, person-centered communication to improve dementia care in hospital settings.
Cited in: Age Discrimination in Acute Care Hospital Settings? Focus on Verbal Care Interactions With Cognitively Impaired Older Patients (Doctoral Dissertation, Schnabel, Hamburg University Press, 2021)
This doctoral dissertation examines how elderspeak appears in German acute care hospitals, with a focus on verbal interactions between nurses and older patients with cognitive impairment. Using mixed methods across two hospital settings, the study identifies diminutives, collective pronoun substitutions, and tag questions as frequent features of ageist communication. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2020 research is cited for establishing collective pronoun substitution as a leading marker of elderspeak in simulated care encounters. Schnabel’s findings reveal that functional impairment plays a stronger role than cognitive decline in triggering these language patterns. The study calls for improved clinical training to reduce ageist communication and promote dignity in hospital care.
Compassion or Condescension? Introducing the Concept of Elderspeak into the Turkish Scholarly Discourse (Akdeniz Journal of Human Sciences, 2025)
This article marks a milestone in Turkish academia by introducing the concept of elderspeak, or “yaÅŸçı dil,” into national discourse. Highlighting the rise of ageism across both interpersonal and institutional levels, especially in healthcare, the authors explore how seemingly well-intentioned speech can contribute to condescension. Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2020 research is cited to support the argument that ageist language patterns are often shaped more by perceived dependency than by gender alone. The study advocates for cross-cultural scholarship on age-based language discrimination and encourages new research that bridges medical and social science perspectives. Published by Akdeniz University in Türkiye, this work underscores the global relevance of elderspeak studies.
Cited in: Differences in Adult Speech: Does Boy-Directed and Girl-Directed Speech Exist (University of Lethbridge, 2023)
This study investigates whether adults alter their speech based on the perceived gender of an infant. Forty university students participated in a speech task, reading aloud to images of baby boys and girls. Researchers analyzed acoustic features such as pitch, intensity, and articulation clarity. Despite expectations, no substantial differences were found between boy-directed and girl-directed speech. The study cites Dr. Maurya D. Cockrell’s 2020 research on elderspeak in simulated clinical encounters to contextualize how adult speech often shifts based on the social identity of the listener, such as age or perceived vulnerability. This connection reinforces the relevance of speech accommodation studies across age and gender.
Cited in: Rejection of Care in Hospitalized Persons Living With Dementia: The Impact of Nurse Communication (Innovation in Aging, The Gerontological Society of America in partnership with Oxford University Press, 2021)
This conference abstract presents findings from a study examining how nurse communication, specifically the use of elderspeak, influences rejection of care among hospitalized persons living with dementia. The study involved 88 care encounters between 16 patients and 53 nursing staff members in a Midwestern hospital. Nearly all encounters (96.6%) included some form of elderspeak, such as infantilizing speech patterns or diminutive phrases. Almost half of the observed interactions resulted in patient rejection of care. Researchers found that reducing elderspeak and managing patient pain significantly decreased the likelihood of care resistance. The study emphasizes the need for person-centered communication strategies and better pain management to improve outcomes for hospitalized older adults with dementia.
Cited in: Understanding Health Literacy in Urban Underserved Communities (Doctoral Dissertation, Grand Canyon University, 2024)
This qualitative descriptive study investigates how nurse practitioners describe the strategies adults in urban underserved communities use to overcome barriers to health literacy. Grounded in the POW model of health literacy, the research explores four specific challenges: accessing health information, interacting with health professionals, maintaining motivation to learn, and applying health knowledge. The study draws on semi-structured interviews and questionnaire responses from 28 nurse practitioners. Thematic analysis using NVivo identified seven recurring themes. Findings emphasize the importance of culturally responsive communication, trust-building, and practical support in improving health literacy outcomes. Recommendations include expanding future research with larger, more diverse samples and exploring different methodological approaches.
Cited in: Using Human-Centered Designs to Support PPC During the COVID-19 Crisis (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2021)
This dissertation presents the development and evaluation of TALC© (Talking About Living with COVID), a mobile-based communication app designed to support healthcare providers in effectively communicating with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using human-centered design principles, the study involved 17 healthcare professionals who tested the app through think-aloud protocols and completed usability and satisfaction scales. Results showed high usability scores and positive feedback, suggesting TALC© has strong potential to reduce communication barriers in clinical settings both during and beyond the pandemic.
