Mentalization in dementia care: an autoethnographic account of a project worker’s experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-156
Author(s):  
Bethany Luxmoore ◽  
Phil McEvoy
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Project Manager ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Communicative Interactions ◽  
The People ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Embodied Experiences

Purpose Mentalization is a psychodynamic concept that can help us to understand our emotional responses to others. The purpose of this paper to illustrate how the concept of mentalization may be applied in dementia care. Design/methodology/approach An autoethnographic account of the author’s experiences (first author), working as a project manager in which the author used the concept of mentalization to pay close attention to how the author’s emotional responses to people with dementia influenced thier communicative interactions. Findings This paper outlines how the author processed the author’s own internal experiences in both mentalizing and non-mentalizing modes, as the author wrestled with feelings of conscious incompetence. In the non-mentalizing mode, the author was pre-occupied with the author’s own anxieties. The author struggled to relate to or make sense of the experiences of the individuals with advanced dementia that the author engaged with. Moving towards a mentalizing stance helped the author to attune to the embodied experiences of the people with dementia and recognise the reciprocal nature of our communicative interactions. Originality/value This paper illustrates the role that mentalization may play in developing natural and authentic strategies to support communicative engagement in dementia care. These strategies may be of potential value to family carers. Family carers who can maintain a mentalizing stance may be more able to respond in empathic, person- centred ways to people who are living with dementia. On the other hand, non-mentalizing responses may be a root cause of mis-understanding and emotional disengagement.

scholarly journals People with dementia and carers online discussing surveillance

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette Vermeer ◽  
Joeke van Santen ◽  
Georgina Charlesworth ◽  
Paul Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Online Discussions ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Peace Of Mind ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
Surveillance Technology ◽  
Technology Products ◽  
People With Dementia

Purpose This paper aims to interrogate online comments from consumers with dementia and family carers on surveillance technology products used by or for people with dementia. Design/methodology/approach A naturalistic, observational study of qualitative posts (N = 120) by people with dementia (n = 7) and family carers (n = 38) to discussion threads on surveillance technology (ST), hosted by an online dementia support forum in the Netherlands. Kozinet’s (2002) typology was used to describe respondent characteristics, and comments on features of ST products were analysed within a pre-existing framework. Findings Forum users were mainly “tourists” interested in ST, with some “insiders” interested in sharing experiences of ST use. They expressed a lack of trust in information from marketers and providers to the experience of being provided with poor information. Consumer-to-consumer comments on products triangulated with previous face-to-face qualitative studies. Carers prioritised “peace of mind” through location monitoring. In contrast, people with dementia prioritised user-friendliness (simple, with capability and compatible with daily routines). Practical implications Using online discussions of ST products provides a rapid approach to understanding current consumer needs and preferences in the ever-changing world of technology. Originality/value No previous study is known to have explored the views of carers and people with dementia in online discussions about ST.

scholarly journals Dementia-friendly design of television news broadcasts

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-149
Author(s):  
Liam Funnell ◽  
Isabel Garriock ◽  
Ben Shirley ◽  
Tracey Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Study Design ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Television News ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
News Broadcasts ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Object Based

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand factors that affect viewing of television news programmes by people living with dementia, and to identify dementia-friendly design principles for television news programmes and factors for personalising object-based media broadcast. Design/methodology/approach Extensive public involvement comprising two discussion groups with people with dementia and family carers informed the study design and provided supplementary secondary data. Primary data collection comprised a focus group interview with people with dementia (n=4) and family carers (n=4). Past viewing experiences and perceived barriers and facilitators to viewing television were explored. Participants commented on an array of video clips comprising varying segments of fictional news programmes, plus control versions of each segment. Findings Four themes were identified: content (general comments, context, type of media and pace); presenter (body language, clothing and accent); background (location and studio appearance); and technical aspects (graphics, sound, colours, camera, transitions, general issues). Research limitations/implications Limitations included a modest sample size which is offset by exemplary public involvement in informing the study design. Practical implications Measures ensured research involvement and participation was made accessible to people living with dementia. Social implications Participants benefited from sharing views with peers and expressed enhanced wellbeing from knowing their participation could lead to improved television viewing, an important social occupation, for people with dementia in the future. Originality/value This study is the first to be published which focusses on dementia-friendly television news programmes.

The ethical evaluation of assistive technology for practitioners: a checklist arising from a participatory study with people with dementia, family and professionals

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Godwin
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Evaluation ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Monitoring And Surveillance ◽  
At Home

PurposeUncertainty over ethical impact may hinder uptake of assistive technology (AT) in dementia. This study aims to examine whether AT contributes to person‐centred care, whether users can participate in research and to explore ethical dilemmas with users, family and professional carers.Design/methodology/approachPeople with dementia, at home or in residential care, and carers were allocated equipment and consulted about ethics. In a small, qualitative study, data were collected using semi‐structured interviews and vignettes and content‐analysed to establish themes.FindingsAT in person‐centred dementia care requires meticulous assessment, reliability and availability in rapidly evolving situations. Users displayed insight, logic and empathy in ethical evaluation. They disliked remote monitoring and surveillance, whereas carers were pragmatic, prioritising safety.Research limitations/implicationsThis research provides further evidence that users with dementia can be included in research. It demonstrates a significant potential role for AT in dementia care, with an ethical checklist to help professionals evaluate ethical dilemmas.Originality/valueAT potentially increases wellbeing, enabling users to remain longer at home, delaying or avoiding moves to or between homes.

A methodological approach to accessing informal dementia care

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 228-240
Author(s):  
James Rupert Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Sampling ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
Methodological Approaches

Purpose A growing body of research seeks to include people with dementia as both participants and co-designers. It is also increasingly recognized that dementia research must pay greater attention to informal care, provided by family and friends in non-institutional settings, because this is the situation of most people affected by dementia. Accessing these kinds of naturalistic care sites through meaningfully inclusive studies can be challenging for researchers in many fields. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes a methodology designed to facilitate meaningful inclusion and access to hard-to-reach dementia care networks. It describes the implementation of this methodology in the field, the problems that emerged and the lessons learned. Findings A two-step sampling approach was used. People with dementia were sampled through organizations unrelated to dementia. Care networks were sampled through ecomapping with people with dementia. The strategy successfully accessed the desired population, but it was labour-intensive and biased the sample in several respects. Originality/value It is hoped that this outline will encourage further reflection and discussion regarding methodological approaches to complex sampling and recruitment issues in dementia research.

scholarly journals Workforce development in dementia care through education and training: an audit of two counties

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Mayrhofer ◽  
Claire Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Workforce Development ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Care Health ◽  
And Training

Purpose – People with dementia require care at home, in care homes and in hospitals, which has implications for the current and future workforce in health and social care. To inform regional workforce development planning in dementia care, Health Education East of England commissioned an organisational audit of current dementia training at NHS Trusts and in social care across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative methods and non-probability purposive sampling were used for recruitment and data collection. The audit included NHS Trusts, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, and health and social care organisations involved in commissioning and providing dementia education and training in the two counties. Findings – Whilst there was considerable investment in dementia awareness training, learning was not targeted, assessed or structured to ensure on-going professional development. Practical implications – This has implications for workforce development and career-progression for staff responsible for the care of older people with dementia. Conclusion: if a future workforce is expected to lead, coordinate, support and provide dementia care across health and social care, a qualifying curriculum could play a critical part in ensuring quality and consistency of approach and provision. Originality/value – This paper makes a timely contribution to discussions on the skills and competencies needed to equip the future workforce for dementia care across health and social care.

Poetry, philosophy and dementia

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Ellen Jones ◽  
Tab Betts
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Intrinsic Quality ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Person With Dementia ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of poetry by family carers as a way into the inner world of a person with late stage dementia, consistent with their values, preferences and experiences; enhancing the wellbeing of both the person with dementia and family carers. Design/methodology/approach – The use of poetry is being increasingly recognised as valuable in improving wellbeing for people with dementia. Poetry has an intrinsic quality which is well-suited for people with dementia: it does not require following a storyline and therefore can be enjoyed by those with no short-term memory. Findings – The paper describes the benefits to both family members and the person with dementia; the use of poetry opened up expression of deep emotions, improved communication and enriched family relationships. Research limitations/implications – Use of poetry by family carers with people with late stage dementia is under researched in the UK and further study of the impact of this intervention would be beneficial. Practical implications – Poetry can be used practically in both small groups in care homes or community settings and also one to one by family carers. Of especial value are poems that have been learnt by heart when young. Originality/value – Finally, the paper also draws attention to the positive lessons we can learn from people with dementia.

Telling it as it is: involving people with dementia and family carers in policy making, service design and workforce development

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-222
Author(s):  
Ruth Marion Eley
Keyword(s):  
Workforce Development ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Engagement Strategies ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Health And Social Care

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for proper involvement of people with dementia and carers in policy making and to suggest practical ways to achieve this. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from personal experience derived from a long career in service development in health and social care, the author outlines the importance of recognising that people with dementia and family carers are experts by experience and the merits of involving people at an early stage. Findings The best ideas come from involved people. Without the insights gained through the lived experiences of people with dementia and family carers, policy makers and professionals run the risk of developing costly services that do not meet the needs of those who will be using them. Practical implications A number of key practical pointers are developed and summarised. Engagement and one-off consultations are not enough. Real involvement has to be part of everyday practice, at all levels. It requires investment to enable people with dementia and carers to have a seat at the table, speak about what matters to them and help professionals develop relevant services that meet their needs. Originality/value The author is able to draw on particular insights gained as Programme Lead for Dementia at the Department of Health during the development of the first English National Dementia Strategy and, more recently, experience of developing engagement strategies in various localities. This included supporting people with dementia and family carers before, during and after key events at which they shared their experiences with commissioners and service providers.

Rebel with a cause

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Wong ◽  
May Chu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
The People ◽  
Crony Capitalism ◽  
Democratic System ◽  
Structural Roots ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the cause and nature of the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong and the role of the youth in the movement. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyzes the relationship between the serious social and economic problems in Hong Kong, of which the youth often feel the greatest impact, and the demands for a real democratic system made by the Umbrella Movement. It examines the structural roots of the Movement and the role of youths in it. Findings The Umbrella Movement is not simply a movement of anger and frustration, but also a movement reflecting some of the serious and legitimate concerns of the people of Hong Kong, especially the youth, who have a high and growing sense of local identity and citizenship. The movement links the major policy and social problems of the post-Handover era to its root cause, which is an undemocratic political system combined with crony capitalism. Unfortunately, the approach taken by the government toward the Movement has been to emphasize its illegal nature and to attempt to divide the opposition by adopting “united front” strategies that pay no serious attention to the problems the Movement has raised. Eventually, this approach will only lead to an outcome of “strong government, weak society” where strong government action in opposition to reformers will weaken the cohesion of society and expose the actual weakness of the state that has no popular legitimacy, going on to create more chaos as a result of its weak governance. Originality/value This paper will help both scholars and policymakers to understand the structural and root causes of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong and explain why Hong Kong is suffering from a serious problem of weak governance.

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