scholarly journals The family accompaniment of persons with dementia seen through the lens of the capability approach

Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Le Galès ◽  
Martine Bungener

Using the capability approach initially developed by A Sen as a theoretical framework, this paper analyses both what people with dementia and their families do in response to difficulties in their daily life brought about by the disease, and the reasons they give for acting as they do. Individual and collective interviews and ethnographic observations with 15 persons with dementia and one or more of their family members were conducted. Follow-up interviews were possible for nine families. Results highlight a great diversity in ways of doing things and in accompaniment by family members. Daily adjustments are often hidden or minimized, at least at the onset of the dementia. Later, they become more frequent, repetitive and indispensable but remain influenced by the social and gender roles that existed prior to the illness. The inventiveness of families, in a context marked by various kinds of constraints, is primarily motivated by their desire to maintain the apparently intact abilities of the person with dementia but especially to preserve forms of liberty and what counted for the person, what that person valued before the disease. There are some ways of living with dementia, even when accompanied, which may long remain preferable to others, which better answer to the past and present aspirations of persons with dementia and the purposes of the accompanying persons. It is thus essential that health professionals, as well as society in general, recognize and address this issue.

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 651-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna-Mari Pesonen ◽  
Anne M Remes ◽  
Arja Isola

This article is based on a qualitative longitudinal study that followed the subjective experiences of both people living with dementia and their family members during the early stages of the illness. The purpose of this article is to describe and reflect on the ethical and methodological issues that occurred during data collection. The article focuses on the situation of the person with dementia and the family member and the role of the researcher when conducting the research interviews. Based on the results of this study, conducting research interviews with people with dementia and their family members poses several ethical and methodological challenges that must be addressed. In doing so, ethically sound dementia-specific research methods will be actively developed enhancing our understanding of living with dementia and providing new insights into the care of people with dementia and their family members.


Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay de Vries ◽  
Jenny Drury-Ruddlesden ◽  
Chris Gaul

It is estimated that a quarter of acute hospital beds are in use by older people with dementia at any one time. Little empirical research has been carried out that has specifically examined the day-to-day input of family members into the care of people with dementia during an acute hospital admission. In this article, we present the results of analysis of interviews with 26 family members of people with dementia about their experiences of supporting an admission of a person with dementia to an acute hospital unit in New Zealand. For all family members, the desire to support the person with dementia during their admission was at the forefront and was their primary focus. The theme, ‘And so I took up residence’, exemplifies fully the experiences of all of the family member participants. This study provides evidence that family members are a resource that may be unrecognised, untapped and unsupported in the event of hospitalisation of people with dementia.


Author(s):  
Carolyn J. Rosenthal

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a novel conceptualization of emotional support in intergenerational families. In a stratified random sample of 458 adults in Hamilton, Ontario, over half the respondents said that there was currently, or had been in the past, a person in their family to whom other family members turned for emotional support and personal advice. In the paper, this person is referred to as the “comforter.” Many people also identified the person who provided emotional support prior to the present comforter. On the basis of the data, a “position” of family comforter is inferred. The paper investigates the social correlates of the position, the type of activities associated with being the family comforter, and the pattern of succession as different generations in the family move in and out of the position. The paper demonstrates the family provision of emotional support at the level of the extended family. It is shown that occupancy, activities and succession of the comforter position are patterned by gender. Further, the data suggest that people seek emotional support from a generational peer.


Author(s):  
Shenique S. Thomas ◽  
Johnna Christian

This chapter draws from a qualitative study of incarcerated men to investigate the social processes and interactions between both correctional authorities and family members that inform their sense of belonging and legitimacy. It reveals that prison visitation rooms present a complex environment in which incarcerated men have access to discreet periods of visibility and relevance to their family members and the broader community. There are, however, several precarious aspects to these processes. The family members who are central to enhancing men’s visibility and legitimacy are primarily women from economically disadvantaged, racial, and ethnic minority groups, resulting in their own marginalization, which is compounded within prison spaces. By illuminating both the challenges and opportunities of familial connections, this chapter informs a social justice framework for understanding the experiences of both incarcerated men and their family members.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine V Talbot ◽  
Pam Briggs

Abstract People with dementia can experience shrinkage of their social worlds, leading to a loss of independence, control and reduced well-being. We used ‘the shrinking world’ theory to examine how the COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the lives of people with early to middle stage dementia and what longer-term impacts may result. Interviews were conducted with 19 people with dementia and a thematic analysis generated five themes: the forgotten person with dementia, confusion over government guidance, deterioration of cognitive function, loss of meaning and social isolation, safety of the lockdown bubble. The findings suggest that the pandemic has accelerated the ‘shrinking world’ effect and created tension in how people with dementia perceive the outside world. Participants felt safe and secure in lockdown but also missed the social interaction, cognitive stimulation and meaningful activities that took place outdoors. As time in lockdown continued, these individuals experienced a loss of confidence and were anxious about their ability to re-engage in the everyday practises that allow them to participate in society. We recommend ways in which the government, communities and organisations might counteract some of the harms posed by this shrinking world.


2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherylynn Bassani

This paper discusses changes in Japanese parenting over the past two generations. Using an inductive approach to the understanding of Japanese families, 10 separate families were theoretically sampled in the Kansai area during the summer of 2000. Concepts surrounding changing parenting emerged from talks with parents. Four interrelated concepts are eminent in the interviews: the rise of individual ethics in parenting, changing parental roles, impacts of changes on children, and romanticized parenting. Key generational and gender differences are apparent across all four concepts. Concepts that emerged from these interviews reflect changes in society and the family that past research has addressed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica MacNamara ◽  
Sarah Glann ◽  
Paul Durlak

How can teachers help students understand the importance of gender pronouns for transgender and gender-nonconforming people? This article presents a gender pronoun reversal activity that simulates the experience of being verbally misgendered. Students followed up on the activity by posting reflections on an online class discussion board. The activity promoted empathy among cisgender students for transgender people and reflexivity regarding the social boundaries of gender identity. Empathy and reflexivity were common responses among students enrolled in Sociology of Diversity and Sociology of Gender at a large research university in the northeast. We present the activity, including preparation and follow-up along with an analysis of student responses.


1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally A. White

The Psychological Skills Inventory for Sport (PSIS; Mahoney, 1988) identifies certain psychological skills or characteristics possessed by successful athletes. However, little has been done to connect the PSIS with other variables that may have an impact on the athletes’ psychological skills. Therefore the purpose of this study was twofold. First, the psychometric properties of the PSIS for all subjects and by gender were determined. Second, the relationship between the PSIS, experience, practice commitment, and gender of collegiate skiers was examined. A random sample of 131 male and female collegiate skiers responded to the 45-item PSIS. Overall, the six PSIS subscales (anxiety, concentration, confidence, mental preparation, motivation, and team emphasis) demonstrated acceptable internal reliability (coeff. alpha = .69−.84). Results of a 4 × 3 × 2 (Experience × Practice Commitment × Gender) MANOVA and follow-up univariate F tests revealed a significant gender effect on the team emphasis subscale. Female collegiate skiers were more team oriented than male collegiate skiers and placed more importance on the social and affiliative aspects of being on a team than did their male counterparts.


Author(s):  
Carla Fabiana Streck ◽  
Thirzá Baptista Frison

Resumo: Para Ecléa Bosi, uma das funções sociais do velho é recordar, ou seja, reconstruir o passado a partir de um olhar do presente. Considerando que o ato de lembrar é fundamental na resignificação da própria vida e também do reconhecimento de si, buscamos investigar as lembranças de velhos sobre o mundo do trabalho na infância e quais as características atribuídas a esse universo. O trabalho em nossa sociedade, tem papel fundamental por ser tanto um fator de socialização, quanto de aceitação social. Lembrar o passado e, principalmente, um passado de trabalho, contribui para o aumento da integridade e da auto-estima, em especial, quando se tratam de idosos aposentados. Foram examinados os relatos de onze pessoas, maiores de 60 anos, aposentadas há cinco anos ou mais, entrevistadas para a pesquisa "Identidade e Aposentadoria". Entre os principais resultados, revelou-se diferenças entre os relatos daqueles que trabalharam na infância e daqueles que não tiveram essa experiência. Foram também constatadas as influências de fatores sócio-econômicos e culturais, envolvendo nível econômico, moradia em ambiente urbano ou rural e questões de gênero. As lembranças de trabalho trazem consigo não apenas uma possibilidade de dedução do conceito de trabalho para cada entrevistado, mas também fazem referência à forma corno a mundo do trabalho era constituído. Palavras-chave: Terceira idade. Lembranças. Trabalho. Abstract: For Ecléa Bosi, one of the social functions of the elder is to remember, or, rebuild the past from the present outlook. Taking into account that the act of remembering is basic in the re-significance of his/her own life, and also in the acknowledgement of him/herself, the memories the elder have of his/her childhood work world, and which characteristics are attributed to such universe, were investigated. Work, in our society, has a fundamental role not only as a socialization factor but for social acceptance as well. Remembering the past, and mainly the work, helps increase the integrity and self-esteem, especially in retired seniors. The reports of 11 individuals over 60 years of age, retired for five or more years, interviewed for the research "Identity and Retirement" were examined. Among the most important results, differences were pointed out between those who worked in his/her childhood and those who did not have such experience. Influences of social-cultural factors were also noted, involving economic standard, living in rural or urban environment, and gender. The memories of work bring along not only the possibility of inferring the concept of work for each individual interviewed, but also the reference to the form of how the work world used to be made up. Keywords: Third age. Memories. Work.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita de Cássia Melão de Morais ◽  
Tania Vignuda de Souza ◽  
Isabel Cristina dos Santos Oliveira ◽  
Juliana Rezende Montenegro Medeiros de Moraes ◽  
Elena Araújo Martinez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the role of the social network configured by the family/companion and their implications for their stay during the hospitalization of the child in the pediatric hospitalization unit. Method: Qualitative study with ten family members/companions of hospitalized children. Data collection was done through the technique of individual interview, which occurred in the period from February to December 2015. The analysis was thematic, in light of the theoretical reference of "Social Networks" described by Lia Sanicola. Results and discussion: The main role of the social network was emotional and material support, and the main components of this network were: companion, mother, aunt and daughter, as well as nursing team, physician and other family members/companions. Final considerations and implications for the practice: It was verified that the totality of the interviewees was female, however, the husband was the most important member of the social network for the family members involved, since they perform the material/financial and emotional function. In addition, the participants consider that they are responsible for all care to the family and, in the condition in that they are, they understand it as a favor provided by the other members of the network. Identifying the composition of the social networks of family members/companions provides a better targeting of care in order to strengthen the social support received.


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