Ordinary Prosthetics: An Essay on Dementia and Alienation in Quebec

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Philosophy of Care

Background:

• Current dementia care models often rely on notions of personhood tied to past continuity and empathy.
• Person-centered care, while well-intentioned, may inadvertently create a "fallacy of care" by overemphasizing these aspects.
• There is a need for alternative frameworks to address the complexities of living with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose "alienation" as a novel conceptual framework for rethinking dementia care.
• To challenge the traditional understanding of personhood in the context of dementia.
• To offer a new perspective on improving care practices for individuals with dementia.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research based on fieldwork in Quebec.
• Study conducted in a dementia care home (Carpe Diem) with 14 older residents.
• Analysis focused on "assemblages of care" and identifying "what is wrong" within them.

Main Results:

• "Alienation" is presented as a framework comprising three elements: ordinariness, prosthetics, and critical reflection on origins.
• This approach suggests focusing on the present "what is wrong" rather than solely on past continuity.
• The study highlights the limitations of empathy-based personhood in dementia care.

Conclusions:

• The concept of "alienation" offers a valuable alternative for understanding and practicing dementia care.
• Rethinking personhood and care through the lens of alienation can lead to more effective and sensitive support.
• Attention to ordinariness, prosthetics, and critical reflection can enhance the quality of life for people with dementia.