The Power of Language - kateswaffer.files.wordpress.com...Master’s of Science in Dementia Care:...
Transcript of The Power of Language - kateswaffer.files.wordpress.com...Master’s of Science in Dementia Care:...
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The Power of Language Kate Swaffer
Person Centred Approach: From Philosophy to Practice
7 October 2014
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Author, Poet, Advocate, Speaker, Blogger
Volunteer, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Friend Consultant, Alzheimer’s Australia
Living well with, and refusing to be defined by dementia Master’s of Science in Dementia Care: Current Student UOW
BPsych, BA, Chef, Grad Dip Counselling, RN Chair, Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Advisory Committee
Co-Chair, Alzheimer’s Australia Consumer’s Dementia Research Network Co-founder, Board member, Secretary & Editor, Dementia Alliance International
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My life was and still is interesting, busy and very fulfilling.
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Why speak out? • To understand the human cost of dementia
• Break down the myths, discrimination and stigma
• Expert by experience
• So others can walk in my shoes
• Nothing about us, without us
• To educate and raise awareness
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Language is a powerful tool.
Our words do reflect our
thoughts and feelings, and can show respect or disrespect.
(Sabat 2001; Parker 2001; Hoffert 2006)
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‘When your child is no longer a child, you will have to find a new language’ (Fossum, K 2003, don’t look back, p. 108)
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dementia dɪˈmɛnʃə/ Noun Medicine noun: dementia 1. a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes
caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
Synonyms: mental illness, madness, insanity, derangement,
lunacy, senile dementia, Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer's disease
(Source: Google)
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disabled dɪsˈeɪbld/ adjective: disabled 1. (of a person) having a physical or mental condition that limits
their movements, senses, or activities. Synonyms: having a disability, wheelchair-using, paralysed. Offensive: retard, retarded, tard, handicapped, impaired, crip,
cripple, lame.
(Source: Google)
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Is language important? • It defines the way others see us
• It allows others to communicate with us
• It defines the way we view ourselves
• It allows us to communicate with others
• It can impact stigma and discrimination
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Stigma
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Language and stigma
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Language in the workforce The most fundamental skills required in any organisation are language, literacy and numeracy. They enable us to: • Process information • Communicate effectively • Contribute to productivity and performance • Enjoy socialisation and team building and our general ability
to enjoy our job and work environment • Builds confidence • Builds the ability to adapt to our changing environments
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Language and dementia • People with dementia continue to be labelled as
‘challenging behaviours’, by people without dementia, in ways that continue to marginalise and stigmatise us
• This may seem simple semantics to someone without dementia, but it feels personal and important to me
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Language and the media • The media continues to stigmatise and labels us with
devaluing and negative language
• Journalists mostly refuse to engage in debate with people with dementia regarding respectful language
• The media refuses to view the word suffering in the same way they view the word retarded
• Many refuse to refer to the latest language guidelines
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Language in research
• The language in research continues to label us negatively, further exacerbating the stigma
• It this what is effecting knowledge translation into better practice?
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Language in health care
• Medical benefits require the use of certain labels to provide certain payments
• Health care workers continue to use negative labels that dehumanise people with dementia
• This continues to stigmatise people with dementia
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Will changing the
model of care
currently used
in dementia,
change the narrative
of dementia?
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Language matters
• Suffering from dementia
vs
• Diagnosed with dementia
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Alzheimer’s Australia Language Guidelines 2014
https://fightdementia.org.au/sites/default/files/language%20guidelines.pdf
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Thank you
@KateSwaffer http://kateswaffer.com
https://www.facebook.com/kate.swaffer http://www.dementiaallianceinternational.org
Albert Einstein