Tania E A Hansen1,2, Jeanette Praestegaard2, Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen3, Mette Andresen2, Birgitte Nørgaard1. 1. Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 2. Department of Research and Development, University College Absalon, Naestved, Denmark. 3. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Initiatives to create dementia-friendly environments are subject to political attention all over the world. As the interpretation of dementia-friendliness is influenced by current cultural trends, the concept is highly ambiguous. The present study aims to explore how discourses concerning dementia-friendliness are manifested in Danish and international policy documents and how they interact internationally. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Inspired by Fairclough's critical discourse approach, 21 policy documents were analyzed to reveal how power is exerted through language and the discursive construction. RESULTS: We identified 5 types of discourses, namely, those concerning the domains of socioeconomy, rehabilitation, knowledge, responsibility, and a good life. Dementia-friendliness was found to be embedded in an overall ideology aimed toward supporting the individual's autonomy in life and health choices and their participation in society. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our analysis furthermore suggests that dementia-friendly initiatives are used collectively as a lever to achieve these policy aims to ultimately compensate for and protect people with dementia against the consequences of the loss of competencies, identity, and control. Thus, to develop and establish sustainable dementia-friendly environments and communities that meet the needs of people living with dementia, we need to be aware of and discuss the implications of the discourses constructing dementia-friendliness and their influence on the appearance of dementia-friendliness in society.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Initiatives to create dementia-friendly environments are subject to political attention all over the world. As the interpretation of dementia-friendliness is influenced by current cultural trends, the concept is highly ambiguous. The present study aims to explore how discourses concerning dementia-friendliness are manifested in Danish and international policy documents and how they interact internationally. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Inspired by Fairclough's critical discourse approach, 21 policy documents were analyzed to reveal how power is exerted through language and the discursive construction. RESULTS: We identified 5 types of discourses, namely, those concerning the domains of socioeconomy, rehabilitation, knowledge, responsibility, and a good life. Dementia-friendliness was found to be embedded in an overall ideology aimed toward supporting the individual's autonomy in life and health choices and their participation in society. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our analysis furthermore suggests that dementia-friendly initiatives are used collectively as a lever to achieve these policy aims to ultimately compensate for and protect people with dementia against the consequences of the loss of competencies, identity, and control. Thus, to develop and establish sustainable dementia-friendly environments and communities that meet the needs of people living with dementia, we need to be aware of and discuss the implications of the discourses constructing dementia-friendliness and their influence on the appearance of dementia-friendliness in society.
Authors: Valentina Bressan; Allette Snijder; Henriette Hansen; Kim Koldby; Knud Damgaard Andersen; Natalia Allegretti; Federica Porcu; Sara Marsillas; Alvaro García; Alvisa Palese Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-19 Impact factor: 4.614