Dementia Studies: A Social Science Perspective

What is dementia? How should we organize dementia care? This comprehensive book critically examines the main approaches to understanding dementia (bio-medical, social-psychological and socio-gerontological) and the main principles and ideologies of care. The book: provides clarity on the gap between the utopian aspirations of care and the reality of care; opens up a series of questions about knowledge and treatment of dementia; and, argues for a transition from positions that place emphasis upon the individual or particular care services to the social, cultural and economic context. Lively, informative and challenging, the book will be of interest to students of nursing, sociology of health & illness, social work and social gerontology. Anthea Innes teaches at the Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling.