What is it about?
A research study conducted in Scotland which involves people with dementia as active participants describing their views and experiences of stress.
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Why is it important?
Previous research on stress has predominately focused on the experiences of family and professional carers. This study focuses specifically on the perspectives of people with dementia, giving voice to their understanding, experiences, wishes and ability to develop coping strategies. The findings challenge notions of a fixed trajectory in dementia and indicate the potential for some people who experience dementia to adapt to some of the changes and recover a sense of self-worth and well-being following diagnosis. Essential to this recovery is enabling and strengthening relationships and personalised support. It is in developing a better understanding of what this support looks like to people with dementia that professionals, family, friends and communities can become better equipped to provide it.
Perspectives
This study was undertaken as part of my doctoral studies and provided me with a privileged opportunity to capture and communicate the perspectives and remarkable strengths of the people with dementia who participated.
Barbara Sharp
Alzheimer Scotland
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Stress as Experienced by People with Dementia: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Dementia, June 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1471301217713877.
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