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What the Theatre Taught Me about Alzheimer's (or: The Giraffe in the Hallway Problem)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Elinor Fuchs
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Abstract

The author recounts her experience as an Alzheimer's care-giver to her mother, stressing the value of her professional background in theater.

Type
Symposium 2 Articles
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 46 , Issue 3: The Medicalization of Poverty; Perspectives of Alzheimer's Disease: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues , Fall 2018 , pp. 749 - 755
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2018

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References

Fuchs, E., Making an Exit (Lexington, MA:Plunkett Lake Press, 2015; New York: Metropolitan Books, 2005).Google Scholar
The Mini — Mental State Examination or Folstein test is a 30-point questionnaire that is used extensively in clinical and research settings to measure cognitive impairment. It is commonly used in medicine and allied health to screen for dementia. It is also used to estimate the severity and progression of cognitive impairment and to follow the course of cognitive changes in an individual over time; thus making it an effective way to document an individual's response to treatment. The MMSE's purpose has been not, on its own, to provide a diagnosis for any particular nosological entity. Wikipedia.Google Scholar
“Validation therapy was developed by Naomi Feil for older people with cognitive impairments and dementia. Feil's own approach classifies individuals with cognitive impairment as having one of four stages in a continuum of dementia. …& The basic principle of the therapy is the concept of validation or the reciprocated communication of respect which communicates that the other's opinions are acknowledged, respected, heard, and (regardless whether or not the listener actually agrees with the content), they are being treated with genuine respect as a legitimate expression of their feelings, rather than marginalized or dismissed. Validation therapy uses different specific techniques, and it has attracted criticism from researchers who dispute the evidence for some of the beliefs and values of validation therapy, and the appropriateness of the techniques; as there are not enough quality evidences proving the efficacy of such method for people with dementia.” Wikipedia, available at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Validation_therapy#cite_note-pmid12917907-1?> (last visited August 8, 2018). (last visited August 8, 2018).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=“Validation+therapy+was+developed+by+Naomi+Feil+for+older+people+with+cognitive+impairments+and+dementia.+Feil's+own+approach+classifies+individuals+with+cognitive+impairment+as+having+one+of+four+stages+in+a+continuum+of+dementia.+…&+The+basic+principle+of+the+therapy+is+the+concept+of+validation+or+the+reciprocated+communication+of+respect+which+communicates+that+the+other's+opinions+are+acknowledged,+respected,+heard,+and+(regardless+whether+or+not+the+listener+actually+agrees+with+the+content),+they+are+being+treated+with+genuine+respect+as+a+legitimate+expression+of+their+feelings,+rather+than+marginalized+or+dismissed.+Validation+therapy+uses+different+specific+techniques,+and+it+has+attracted+criticism+from+researchers+who+dispute+the+evidence+for+some+of+the+beliefs+and+values+of+validation+therapy,+and+the+appropriateness+of+the+techniques;+as+there+are+not+enough+quality+evidences+proving+the+efficacy+of+such+method+for+people+with+dementia.”+Wikipedia,+available+at++(last+visited+August+8,+2018).>Google Scholar