MeNDD · Metaphorical Narratives in Dementia Discourse

Metaphorical Narratives in Dementia Discourse

Summary Project Number: 845119 Project Acronym: MeNDD Project title: Metaphorical Narratives in Dementia Discourse This Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) Individual Fellowship is titled Metaphorical Narratives in Dementia Discourse, acronym MeNDD. How people talk about dementia really matters, for it changes how we all feel and behave towards people with dementia. The project MeNDD is working to help everyone to talk about dementia better. The research fellow and her associates imagine a world where the challenges of dementia are not compounded by stigmatising language and attitudes. In dementia, as previously with cancer and AIDS, metaphors, such as ‘cognitive decline’, and ‘the living dead’, frame the narrative of the disease, influencing how dementia and people living with dementia are negatively perceived by society and thus also how they may negatively perceive themselves. The perspectives of people living with dementia are frequently marginalised in public debate. However, no public debate is ultimately responsible unless there is a clear understanding of what it is like to live with dementia, and unless it considers people with dementia’s own words on the subject. MeNDD focused on how dementia stigma affects people with dementia and their associates (e.g., both informal and formal caregivers) and how the expression of people with dementia’s negative emotions can help people with dementia in coping with and living with their illness. MeNDD: • outlined the key aspects of dementia stigma discussed by the literature in the light of a comprehensive framework for dementia stigma that is useful to better integrate and advance research. • analysed the distinct reasons behind the negative emotions of people with dementia and highlighted how they can be challenged and possibly accepted. The ultimate goal of MeNDD project is to raise awareness about the importance of responsible language use in dementia discourse at an individual and social levels. On an individual level, this project shows that we need to develop a deeper understanding of how people living with dementia see themselves, talk about themselves, and wish to be seen. On a societal level, this project highlights that the spread of negative stereotypical metaphors (such as ‘the living dead’ and ‘the silent tsunami of dementia’) increases the risk of stigmatisation of people with dementia and hinders the development and usage of respectful language in dementia communication.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union