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Moderate dementia: relational social engagement (RSE) during family visits
Bruce Walmsley1, Lynne McCormack2
1a School of Psychology , University of Newcastle , Callaghan , NSW 2308 , Australia.
Aging & Mental Health
|May 18, 2017
Summary
Individuals with moderate dementia retain social awareness during family visits, demonstrating relational social engagement (RSE) through familiar bonds. Communication quality, whether positive or negative, influences their responsiveness and engagement.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Dementia Care Research
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Moderate dementia impacts social awareness and communication.
- Family interactions are crucial for individuals with dementia in care homes.
- Existing dementia assessments may not capture social engagement nuances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate retained social awareness in moderate dementia patients during family visits.
- To explore the concept of relational social engagement (RSE) in this context.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using video-recorded family interactions.
- Thematic analysis of speech and non-speech data from 12 individuals across five family groups.
- Analysis of 10-15 minute sessions over two periods per family.
Main Results:
- Relational social engagement (RSE) emerged as a key theme, influenced by familial communication patterns ('in-step' vs. 'out-of-step').
- 'In-step' communication fostered responsive and open social engagement from residents.
- 'Out-of-step' communication led to disinterest or guardedness in residents.
Conclusions:
- Relational social engagement (RSE) is linked to pre-existing meaningful relationships.
- Current dementia care and assessment do not incorporate RSE during family interactions.
- RSE offers a new perspective for understanding social awareness in dementia.
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