Centre for Policy on Ageing



Dementia reconsidered — the person comes first
Author(s)	Tom Kitwood
Publisher	Open University Press, Buckingham, 1997
Pages	160 pp (Rethinking ageing series)
Source	Open University Press, Celtic Court, 22 Ballmoor, Buckingham MK18 1XW.
Keywords	Dementia ; Personality ; Rights [elderly] ; Needs [elderly] ; Organisation of care ; Management [care] ; Informal care ; Theory.
Annotation	The author presents an approach to dementia in which the person comes first, drawing on ideas and practices from psychotherapeutic work, where the emphasis is on contact and communication. The unifying theme is of personhood: a standing or status that is bestowed on a human being, in the context of a relationship, implying recognition, respect and trust. Its ethical, social-psychological and neurological significance is explored. The positive (promoting personhood) and negative aspects (undermining of persons) of dementia are discussed, as well as what the experience of dementia might be like. A discussion of care practice focuses on those forms of interaction through which personhood can be sustained, and how these might be extended to the practices of organisations involved in the caring function, and to carers. The concluding chapter examines what is involved in bringing about a radical change in the culture of dementia care.
Accession Number	CPA-971028003 B
Classmark	EA: DK: IKR: IK: P: QA: P6: 4D
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.