Characteristics of asserting the identity of people with dementia in an old people's home

Abstract

Dementia poses a specific risk to the expression of identity due to the progressive decline of cognitive abilities and the general negative image of people with dementia. Prejudice and negative beliefs often lead to stigma and discrimination, which can depersonalise people with dementia and make it impossible for them to express their identity. The socially constructed image of people with dementia points to the need to explore the concept of identity of people with dementia. Based on qualitative research conducted in an old people's home and narrative interviews with residents with dementia, we demonstrate the possibilities of asserting the identity of people with dementia in an institutional setting. The paper highlights various factors that have a significant impact on the identity formation of residents with dementia. Among the most highlighted are appearance, physical abilities, social environment, activities, emotions, and religion. Residents with dementia develop different strategies to cope with the changes brought about by dementia and ageing (accepting change, redirecting negative thoughts, and maintaining skills through activities and employment). The paper presents the ability of residents with dementia to maintain or even transform their identity in an institutional setting, which has a strong impact on the expression and assertion of the individual's identity.