title: The discursive construction of identity by community psychiatric nurses and family members caring for people with dementia.
abstract: This paper examines the discursive work undertaken by family members caring for people with dementia when interacting with community psychiatric nurses. The paper outlines the theoretical basis of this approach and brings it to bear upon data taken from a study of home visits to family carers by community psychiatric nurses. The paper provides insights into the way family carers and welfare agencies manage their interface through the use of language. In particular, the paper illuminates how these interactions construct the identity of people with dementia and their carers and locates them in a specific socio-political context. The paper has important implications regarding the future development of dementia care nursing and also the future development of policy relating to dementia care.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, England.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D012144:Respite Care / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012660:Semantics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires