REMENTIA - CHALLENGING THE LIMITS OF DEMENTIA CARE
Rementia’: Challenging the limits of dementia care
Article in International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 8(12):993 - 1000 · December 1993 DOI: 10.1002/gps.930081205
1st Andrew Sixsmith 30.33 · Simon Fraser University
2nd John Stilwell
3rd John RM Copeland 44.56 · University of Liverpool Abstract Dementia is conventionally defined in terms of neurological changes in the brain and an inevitable and progressive decline in the individual's cognitive powers and functional ability. However, this ‘biomedical’ model fails to recognize other important factors within the dementing process, such as the social and care context within which the dementing person lives. It is argued that appropriate care interventions can have a considerable impact on the progress of dementia. Data from an evaluation of three experimental homes for the elderly mentally ill show that some degree of ‘rementia’, the regaining of lost cognitive and functional abilities, is possible for some individuals. This evidence is used to argue for a more positive approach to dementia care.
Rementia vs Dementia
By Micha Shalev
“Rementia” vs “Dementia”
Dementia is conventionally defined in terms of neurological changes in the brain and an inevitable and progressive decline in the individual’s cognitive powers and functional ability. However, this ‘biomedical’ model fails to recognize other important factors within the dementing process, such as the social and care context within which the dementing person lives. It is argued that appropriate care interventions can have a considerable impact on the progress of dementia. Base on close to 30 years of experience in this field, I found out many times that some degree of ‘rementia’, the regaining of lost cognitive and functional abilities, is possible for some individuals. I have seen this many times with residents moving from either home, or other long term care facilities where they lacked the appropriate cognitive stimulation.shutterstock_219455902 Rementia It is a term coined by Tom Kitwood around 1996 to describe how persons with dementia can show improvement in functioning. This often occurs when excess disability is removed by changing from a toxic social environment to one which supports competencies which remain in persons with dementia, and/or by finding ways to circumvent disabilities using remaining strengths.
