Promoting Good Living and Social Health in Dementia

Abstract

The notion of good living in chronic disease in general and, in the case of dementia specifically, highlights the role of social health in preserving the well-being of the people involved. In ageing ageism, discrimination toward older adults is considered an important barrier against involvement in society. In the case of dementia, stigmatisation can have an impact on the person affected, on the family, on healthcare services, and on society more widely. Examples of the impact of discrimination are related to diagnosis disclosure, advance care planning, and the involvement of people with dementia in decision-making about their future treatment. Furthermore, the labelling of the behaviour of people with dementia as a disorder is a way to pathologise it and does not take into account the role of relationships and the social context as a drive for the behaviour itself. As a result of the stigmatisation and the labelling, people with dementia experience epistemic injustice as they are considered neither partners in the decision-making process nor full members of society. A capability-based approach is needed to promote good living and social participation in people with dementia.