Centre for Policy on Ageing



Developing awareness about awareness in early-stage dementia — the role of psychosocial factors
Author(s)	Linda Clare
Journal title	Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice, vol 1, no 3, October 2002
Pages	pp 295-312
Keywords	Dementia ; Early ; Recognition ; Attitude ; Adjustment.
Annotation	Unawareness of dementia is often viewed as a "symptom" that is wholly or primarily the product of biological factors. While neurological damage may be sufficient to produce unawareness in some disorders, it is argued that this is not generally the case in early-stage dementia. Instead, it is suggested that the apparent degree of awareness is an expression of adaptive psychological responses constructed in a social situation in the context of neurologically based cognitive impairment. Drawing on examples from detailed interviews with people who have dementia and their partners, the contribution of psychological and social factors to the expression of awareness is explored. It is further argued that, because evaluations of awareness are constructed in dialogue through the interpretative activity of the researcher or clinician, reflexivity is essential in considering awareness. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-021217205 A
Classmark	EA: 4J: 4AD: DP: DR
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.