Is it all doom and gloom for the person living with dementia?

The advocacy and living well drive is gradually shifting the narrative from one shrouded in negativity to one that recognises personhood, agency and a need for enabling societies. The capacity for humankind reconceptualising social constructs and seeing persons living with dementia as partners of care instead of passive recipients of care should continue to be forged. Changing the social constructs through the use of positive language will go a long way. The ‘Wellness” movement grounded in the use of positive voices, preferences and rights may lead to a shift in the historically dominant biomedical descriptions that often reduces people to a diagnosis. Thus this trend in practice, seeks for professionals, families and communities to engage and participate differently. It enjoins everyone to listen and attend more closely and prioritise relationships over routines. This in my view, may help create environments where autonomy is supported as far as reasonably possible for the person living with dementia even as the trajectory of the condition changes.

Conclusion

Living well with dementia, is thus an achievable ideal especially when language is used positively in dementia care. The kind of language used it is obvious from the afore has profound and complex effects. Influencing the psychological wellbeing, behaviour, relationships, and the preservation of personhood in dementia. While negative language is often subtle and unintentional, its impact can be cumulative and profound.

Imbibing critical reflections in not only practice and adapting positive language use by all stakeholders and providers of care can help us move closer to delivering a truly person-centred, compassionate care. For, “Living well with dementia” emerges when stigma is confronted. Advocacy in this sense then becomes both collective and deeply personal. A world in which persons living with dementia are not only cared for but also heard, respected and enabled to continue shaping their own lives.