Recognizing and working with remaining abilities: Toward improving the care of Alzheimer's disease sufferers

Abstract

Empirical evidence derivedfrom the discourse of two Alzheimer's disease (AD) sufferers is presented and found to support the notion proposed by Kitwood and Bredin¹ that there are aspects of “relative well-being” which are preserved in Alzheimer's disease sufferers despite the loss of a variety of individual cognitive abilities as measured by standard tests. The present in-depth case studies also reveal that aspects of relative well-being can be supported by the social environment in which the afflicted person lives. It is proposed that supporting the afflicted person's remaining intact abilities, as seen in the signs of relative well-being, can enhance the interactions between the caregiver and AD sufferer, and thus be a source of benefit to both.