Preliminary study of how older adults with dementia experience elderspeak based on a daycare centre in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Purpose This preliminary case study aims to examine the experience and impact of elderspeak towards older people with dementia at a day care centre in Klang Valley, Malaysia Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with three participants diagnosed with dementia. The study aimed to understand their subjective experiences of elderspeak and factors that shape their emotional and behavioural responses. Findings Findings of the study reveal two experiential reactions of the participants towards elderspeak: mixed and positive. Main determining factors of their reactions are identified, such as the nature of their relationship with the speaker, forms of salutation, verbal and non-verbal cues, as well as past interpersonal experiences, all of which shaped how they perceived and responded to elderspeak. These factors contributed to the heterogeneous ways in which elderspeak was perceived and interpreted. Research limitations/implications Conducting interviews with this population also presented methodological challenges, particularly instances of repetitive speech, which affected the flow and depth of data collection. This highlights the need for future studies to develop strategies that address communication repetition when engaging individuals with dementia in qualitative research. Originality/value This research makes a valuable contribution to the area of elderspeak by bringing forward the voices of older people with dementia, which are under-represented in the current literature. Although preliminary, the study offers a foundation for future research in multicultural dementia care contexts.