Exploring continuity of the self in dementia and the co-creation of a symbolic form of visual memory-aid

Abstract

This thesis explored the life stories of ten community dwellers living early in their journey with dementia and sought to explore the potential to uphold aspects of their social self or identity in relation to social care nursing practice, whilst honouring how they wished to be remembered through time – continuity of the future self.

Through the narrative interview or life story, salient aspects of the social self were seen to emerge to enable a symbolic form of visual memory-aid to be co-created to help uphold identity, support person-centred conversations and in terms of the future self, to support apt remembering and memorialisation. Tentative support for this work was found expressed in the relatives’ feedback interviews and through the funerary experience of one family. Cherished objects, photographs and particular divestment strategies were also found to support and maintain continuing bonds and memorialisation, thus a post-life self.

Thematic analysis unveiled several life-story themes, establishing a broader humanistic relevance. Continuity of self, well-being and flourishing were sustained through an authentic and thus meaningful engagement with life, valued connections and through arriving at a sense of unity of being and awareness of the broader relevance of the lived-life - a self-wisdom or transcendence of the self.

‘Story-work’ provided relatives with new knowledge, facilitating a deeper understanding of their loved-one and their lived-life and some participants had arrived at new understandings of difficult events and their life-story, providing support for using narrative work as a means for continuity of self over time.