ABSTRACT
As people dement, they do so in unique ways; in part due to myriad constellations of brain lesions in the degenerative brain disorders. The degenerating brains belong to people, whose minds are the result of an even greater variety of genetic inheritance and life experiences. The brain damage that occurs in dementia, is an immense challenge to sufferers and to the people supporting them and working with them. When dementia is in an advanced state, verbal communication is often compromised, which adds to feelings of frustration and sometimes despair. What many people with dementia lose quite early on in the illness is the ability to reality-test. An interesting observation came from an untrained but experienced worker in supportive accommodation for frail elderly people, few with dementia. The non-demented residents tended to operate a scapegoat system towards the most “feeble-minded” of individuals.
