Person and process in dementia

Abstract Outlines are given of an ‘ethological’ programme of research into the social psychology of dementia in old age. Here the manifestations and progress of a dementing illness are seen to be crucially dependent on the nature of the interpersonal context. The quality of dementia care can be evaluated, including quantitative measures. Earlier conceptualizations of the dementing process were overly deterministic and pessimistic. New challenges are created for service provision and policy.