Living Well with Dementia: Feeling Empowered through Interaction with Their Social Environment

Berit Ziebuhr, Michele Zanasi, Yolanda Bueno Aguado, Raquel Losada Durán, Tom Dening, Isabelle Tournier, Kristina Niedderer, Ana Diaz, Diana Druschke, Rosa Almeida and Vjera Holthoff-Detto ()
Additional contact information
Berit Ziebuhr: St. Hedwig Kliniken Berlin, Alexianer Krankenhaus Hedwigshoehe, Berlin 12526, Germany
Michele Zanasi: St. Hedwig Kliniken Berlin, Alexianer Krankenhaus Hedwigshoehe, Berlin 12526, Germany
Yolanda Bueno Aguado: Fundación INTRAS, INTRAS Neuropsychology Clinic, 47016 Valladolid, Spain
Raquel Losada Durán: Fundación INTRAS, RDi Projects Department, 47016 Valladolid, Spain
Tom Dening: Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK
Isabelle Tournier: Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BR, UK
Kristina Niedderer: Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BR, UK
Ana Diaz: Alzheimer Europe, 1417 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Diana Druschke: Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Rosa Almeida: Fundación INTRAS, RDi Projects Department, 47016 Valladolid, Spain
Vjera Holthoff-Detto: St. Hedwig Kliniken Berlin, Alexianer Krankenhaus Hedwigshoehe, Berlin 12526, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: This study was designed to advance our understanding of how feelings of empowerment in people living with dementia still residing at home can be promoted. We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 participants with mild-to-moderate stages of dementia in Germany and Spain as part of a European study on mindful design for dementia. A qualitative thematic content analysis was performed to elicit the key features of the experience reported by the interviewees. Three overarching categories were identified: the first category ‘experiencing changes in personal life and coping with changes in life’ covered losses and coping strategies; the second category ‘retaining a sense of usefulness‘ included social participation and the need for activities with others; the third category ‘feeling empowered’ covered reflections on lifetime achievements, accomplishments in the present life, being in control and self-worth. Participants placed a strong emphasis on continuity and on the importance of making active decisions and meaningful social contributions. Empowerment within the person living with dementia was achieved through their interactions with their social environment, including the significance of communication about their needs and wishes and enabling shared decision-making and interactions with others in reciprocity.

Keywords: dementia; usefulness; empowerment; self-determination; shared decision-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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