Dementia and the power of second person relations

Stephen Ames

Abstract:

Over the last 30 years there has been a notable shift with positive effects, in understanding and responding to persons with dementia: from the third person perspective of viewing dementia as a biomedical condition to making the person with dementia the starting point, while retaining all the benefits of treating this condition pharmaceutically.  This shift, which has not been implemented everywhere, was partly due to the introduction by T. Kitwood et. al.(1997) of an understanding and valuing of human persons drawn from ethics, philosophy and social psychology.  This resulted in improved quality of life for people with dementia, which included some evidence for ‘rementia’.  The paper examines what produces these effects, drawing on S. Darwall’s (2006), The second-person standpoint: morality, respect, and accountability. 

Public Transport: Trams: 109 (to Box Hill), 12 (to Victoria Gardens): Tram, stop 13 (Landsdowne St. ACU).

Buses: From City: 302, 303, 304, 305, 309, 318, 350, 905, 906, 907, 908. Stop: ACU.

Nearest Train Station: Parliament Station. Exit Macarthur St, go north until Victoria Parade, Turn right, 400 metres (CTC building corner of Victoria Parade and Eades St, - the Southern Side of Vic Parade, located across from what was until very recently - the Dallas Brooks Hall).

Parking along Vic Parade and at the ACU (on Young St).

The Treacy boardroom is on the ground floor, very close to the reception desk of the Thomas Carr Centre, which is the campus building at 278 Victoria Pde. There is a wheelchair-friendly toilet/bathroom on the same ground floor a short distance from the boardroom.