Fostering Personhood in Dementia through Communication

 The cognitive losses in dementia and the excess disability associated with the label of dementia threaten personal identity and sense of self. Opportunities for communication are especially constrained for individuals with dementia who reside in assisted living or long-term care facilities. The construction, telling or writing, and sharing of stories serve to promote connections between the person living with dementia and others, thereby fostering personhood. We provide case examples of facilitating the use of narrative arts such as storytelling, life writing, conversational memory boxes and collaborative poetry

 Life Story as a Resource for Conversation in Dementia:
Conversational Remembering Boxes, Story Binders & Collages, Facilitated Letter Writing, and Group Poetry

 The construction, telling or writing, and sharing of stories serve to promote connections between the person living with dementia and others. Conversation can be supported in meaningful visits through narrative arts such as storytelling, life writing, conversational memory boxes and collaborative poetry.

Related Topics

The “Spirit” of Elder Care: Practicing Connection, Gratitude, and Hope

Spiritual Care for Persons and Families Living with Dementia

Ability Speaks: Fostering Personhood Through Dementia Stories

Connections for Personhood: Words from Writers with Dementia