Paternalistic describes that same father-knows-best style. A paternalistic law, boss, doctor, or policy looks after people and also keeps the real decisions away from them. It is the adjective; paternalism is the noun. Newspapers and essays use it when they want to say: they are caring for you, and they are not treating you as an adult. The flavour is usually critical, though the speaker may still admit the help is genuine. Built from paternal + -istic (“having that character”). A paternal grandfather is simply your father’s father — warm and factual. A paternalistic grandfather, if someone said that, would be the one who decides for you “for your own good.”