Abstract
A systematic review of qualitative literature published between 1989 and May 2016 was conducted, utilizing the electronic databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL-Complete. This was followed by a critical interpretative synthesis to understand how people with dementia perceive the attitudes, views, and reactions of other people toward them, and the subjective impact that these have. Four major themes were derived from the findings of the 23 included studies: being treated as an "other" rather than "one of us"; being treated as "lesser" rather than a full, valued member of society; the impact of others' responses; and strategies to manage the responses of others. Thus, people with dementia can feel outcast and relegated, or indeed feel included and valued by others. These experiences impact upon emotional and psychological well-being, and are actively interpreted and managed by people with dementia. Experiences such as loss and diminishing identity have previously been understood as a direct result of dementia, with little consideration of interpersonal influences. This review notes that people with dementia actively engage with others, whose responses can foster or undermine social well-being. This dynamic relational aspect may contribute to emerging understandings of social health in dementia.
Highlights
Across nations, policy and advocacy initiatives are increasingly based upon the premise that social relationships play a vital role in helping people to live well with dementia
People living with dementia inevitably do so within a social world; the subjective experience of the condition is shaped by multi‐level social contexts and the quality of social relationships is interwoven with the preservation of identity (La Fontaine and Oyebode, 2014) and well‐being (Ablitt et al, 2009)
The study focused upon the relationships between people with dementia and health and social care professionals, since this review focused on the everyday, informal social experiences
Summary
Policy and advocacy initiatives are increasingly based upon the premise that social relationships play a vital role in helping people to live well with dementia. People living with dementia inevitably do so within a social world; the subjective experience of the condition is shaped by multi‐level social contexts and the quality of social relationships is interwoven with the preservation of identity (La Fontaine and Oyebode, 2014) and well‐being (Ablitt et al, 2009). When negative stereotypes are implicit within the relationships between others and people with dementia, these may inadvertently erode valued social roles and contribute to disability over and above that attributable to cognitive impairment. Method A systematic review of qualitative literature published between 1989 ‐ May 2016 was conducted, utilizing the electronic databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL‐ Complete This was followed by a critical interpretative synthesis, to understand how people with dementia perceive the attitudes, views and reactions of other people towards them, and the subjective impact that these have
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