I am a young man working at a continuing care retirement and nursing center. I must speak to elderly people on a daily basis. Currently, because I do not know what address to use, I simply walk up and begin speaking to them.
I feel that I should not call them "Mrs" or "Madam/Ma'am" because I may run the risk of offending singles or upsetting widows. And most of these ladies are widows.
Most workers call the residents by their first names. Many are offended by this and think it disrespectful. So, currently, when I need to address a female resident by name, I say "Mizz Smith" instead of "Mrs Smith" or "Ma'am Smith". Mizz is ambiguous enough that they wont know if I am calling them Miss or Mrs.
2007-08-17 10:24:02 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Sir, you a gentleman after my own heart. In my years of geriatric nursing, one of my pet peeves was people who address these elders disrespectfully. Thank you for giving my honored seniors the respect they have earned and for setting a good example to your co-workers. What you are doing is exactly right, and I wish I could shake your hand. Thank you.
2007-08-17 11:49:01 · answer #1 · answered by kill_yr_television 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Growing up in the South, we were taught to call ladies Ms. "Ann" or Ms. Mary (pronouced Mizz). Ma'am is also considered polite. As in she asks a question and you answer "Yes, ma'am." Or "Yes, Ms. Ann."
I think calling a women just by her first name is rude. Especially if she never invited you to in the first place.
2007-08-17 10:50:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Habit? I was Mrs before the feminist movement( for which, for years I was a fervent advocate )thought I should define myself in another way. I never bothered to re-define myself as Ms. Now that I have as the old saying goes, 'Washed that man out of my hair", I do! But I guess that is since a life threatening incident , I see myself as an entirely different person these days.
2016-05-21 22:36:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Touchy huh? Seems like first name would be a touch of warmth in such a place. As a widow, I still think of my self as Mrs. But I rarely use it in writing. Why not ask them, "What do you like to be called?" How ever you address them sounds like they will let you know, Just keep smiling! as you say Ms.
And I guess "Hey Ma" won't work at all----Good luck, Keep it
lite!
2007-08-17 10:40:49 · answer #4 · answered by jenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a guessing person, I just ask what do you perfer Mrs. or Ms. Miss is more for a younger women not married.
2007-08-21 07:46:26 · answer #5 · answered by My Three 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ms. (pronounced mizz)
thats used if u dont know her marital status n considered polite.
2007-08-17 10:29:18 · answer #6 · answered by glamorous B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know a lot pf people in the southern US refer to an elderly woman as Miss then her first name (EG Hello Miss Mary. how are you today?). it is respectful yet informal.
2007-08-18 08:24:57 · answer #7 · answered by j_lynn_griff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mizz.
or Mizzizzle.
2007-08-17 16:20:26 · answer #8 · answered by Parrot Eyes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mrs. is still correct for widows. It is even correct for some divorcees.
I'd advise you to use Ms. unless they ask you otherwise.
2007-08-17 11:52:19 · answer #9 · answered by starrrrgazer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ms. Smith is appropriate. If they still have all their mental faculties, you could ask them how they wish to be called.
2007-08-17 12:14:11 · answer #10 · answered by nowyouknow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋