When labels start to replace people: The role of media

 Negative language does not only characterise poor practice but constitutes a modifiable factor that can increase distress, reinforce stigma, and undermine ethical care. Information we consume irrespective of its origins, shapes and influences how societies conceptualise and perceive the condition termed “dementia”. In these contemporary times we live in, one does not have to make much effort to have access to vast information on any topic and therefore the need for positive social constructs that will reconstruct our consciousness with positivity around the condition. There is currently a push through advocacy and through the wellness movements of which the media has a great role to play.

Can Personhood be sustained?

The concept of personhood is the bedrock to contemporary dementia care. Tom Kitwood (1997) conceptualised personhood as a status bestowed through relationships, emphasising that the experience of dementia is shaped not only by neuropathology and the medical model of dementia but also through social interaction in which language plays a big part. Kitwood, (1997), introduced the notion of malignant social psychology, describing how everyday interactions such as ignoring, labelling, or correcting can erode the individual’s sense of self.

Let’s watch a short video to help shed light on some influence of language in dementia.