As we make our New Year resolutions, here’s one I’d like you to consider: thinking about how we refer to people living with dementia.
Would you ever in a million years consider calling them “dementia people”? Of course not! So how has it become commonplace to hear people in hospitals referred to as “dementia patients”? If that phrase had any meaning, it would be that these patients are being treated for their dementia – but in a hospital context, they’re not.
Let’s try that whole approach with diabetes. Is any hospital patient ever referred to as a “diabetes patient”, simply because – whatever they’re there to be treated for – they have diabetes? Definitely not!
The phrase “dementia patient” is really an ungrammatical version of “demented patient” and that’s certainly not how I would like to be referred to, nor, I imagine, would anyone who currently uses that expression. First and foremost, these are patients – and yes, we need to be aware that they bring with them their dementia; the phrase “patient with dementia” (the equivalent of “patient with diabetes”) covers that perfectly – and respectfully.
So, I’m calling for a nationwide New Year Resolution: let’s see the person first and their dementia alongside them – and we can demonstrate that very easily by using the phrase “patient with dementia”.
Thank you to all hospital and healthcare teams caring insightfully for people living with dementia – and particular thanks to those who refer to them appropriately whilst they’re receiving that care.