Elderspeak: Criminal Justice Terms

Dr. Bill Thomas in Changing Aging blog - In Washington D.C., one of the big engines pulling out of the Administration on Aging (AoA) station is the “nursing home diversion program.” I saw that Bill blogged on the NYT article about Elderspeak and find it interesting that the program designed to help elders to remain in their homes, and stay out of institutional long term care, borrows a term (Diversion Programs) more commonly associated with the criminal justice system. The following comment was posted in response: "This isn't the first time I've seen language associated with the criminal justice system seep over into elder care. A nursing home activities director recently told me that our cub scout den could visit all residents except those in the dementia wing - they'd be in LOCK DOWN at the time we'd scheduled our visit ("Sundowners, don't you know")." Scary. Posted by CC Andrews