ABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, irreversible dementia that currently affects four million individuals in the United States. Discussing the self in dementia, T. Kitwood focuses on the parts of self beyond memory, what he calls 'personhood', that includes feelings, emotions, reactions, and social abilities that are influenced by the interactions with others. S. R. Sabat demonstrated through a case study that by being present in either a 'malignant social-psychological' or a benign milieu, a person with AD can change his or her behavior, attitude and sense of self. The chapter describes common themes relating to the impact of the AD experience on the concept of self, which emerged from the interviews and issues identified through the interview schedule. It suggests concepts emerging from the narratives, describing the distinctive sets of core values that people with AD discussed in defining their sense of self. The chapter examines the social-psychological milieu, as related through the narratives.
