Moderate dementia: relational social engagement (RSE) during family visits

ABSTRACT

Objective: This qualitative study seeks evidence of retained social awareness in individuals with moderate dementia residing in care-homes, when engaged in interactive family visits.

Method: Speech/non-speech data collected from 10/15-minute video-recorded family interactions of five family groups (12 individuals; 2 sessions per family group) were coded using thematic analysis.

Results: Interactional patterns embedded in familiar bonds provided the context for the superordinate theme: relational social engagement (RSE). This overarched two subthemes: in-step and out-of-step; highlighting that RSE, can occur as a result of both positive and negative familial communication patterns. When familial communication was in-step, despite changed communication pathways, the resident's attempts at social engagement appeared open, relaxed, and responsive. A sense of trust, and familiarity appeared to facilitate reciprocal understanding and the striving of resident family members to retain family group membership. When familial communication was out-of-step, active attempts at reciprocity or open engagement from visiting family members were not observed. At such times, communication became discordant, and frustrated in their efforts to remain an integral part of the family group, the resident appeared disinterested or guarded often retorting with annoyance at visiting family members.

Conclusion: The construct of RSE appears specific to prior meaningful relationships, where optimal social awareness and communication, positive and negative, can occur. Currently, dementia assessment and care does not include RSE during family interactions. Implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Awareness
• communication
• dementia
• families
• thematic analysis

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the generous contribution of the participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.