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Managing identity in early-stage dementia: maintaining a sense of being valued

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2011

E. STEEMAN ,
J. TOURNOY ,
M. GRYPDONCK ,
J. GODDERIS  and
B. DIERCKX DE CASTERLÉ
E. STEEMAN*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Center for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Division of Nursing Science, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
J. TOURNOY
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
M. GRYPDONCK
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Division of Nursing Science, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
J. GODDERIS
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, Division of Psychiatry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
B. DIERCKX DE CASTERLÉ
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Center for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
*
Address for correspondence: Els Steeman, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Division of Nursing Science, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Blok A, 9000 Gent, Belgium E-mail: els.steeman@ugent.be
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Abstract

Focusing on loss or maintenance of identity in persons with dementia may affect how they are approached and cared for. We performed a longitudinal study of 17 elderly persons with early-stage dementia with the aim of exploring changes in the experience of living with dementia. The major theme – a struggle to be valued – was clearly present in follow-up interviews. However, we observed a gradual shift in the concept of being valued: a shift from ‘being valued for what you do’ toward ‘being valued for who you are’. This progression represents a shift from performance-related core values of identity to those that are existentially related. These findings suggest that the self can be maintained by adjusting to loss.

Keywords

dementialived experiencequalitative methodology
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , February 2013 , pp. 216 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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