Who's seeing whom?: General systems theory and constructivist implications for senile dementia intervention

Journal/Book: J Aging Stud. 1997; 11: 55 Old Post RD-#2, PO Box 1678, Greenwich, CT 06836-1678. Jai Press Inc. 15-25.

Abstract: The constructivist notion that people act based not on things, but rather on the meaning things have for them, and a systems view of feedback causality leads to a notion of senile dementia as a process. Looking at families where the idea that someone is sick is constructed and maintained and considering what these construction processes mean for the experiences of senile dementia, suggests that families drive the process. This means that it is possible to posit a model of difference between the seen clinical population and broader population, which is based not on etiological symptoms, but rather on subjective definitions of problems. Senile dementia can therefore be considered a ''social'' disease separate from physical causes.

Note: Article Hanson B, York Univ, Atkinson Sociol, 4700 Keele St, N York, ON M3J 1P3, CANADA

Keyword(s): ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE; COMPETENCE; POLITICS

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