Understanding Their Stories

Chapter 6: Understanding Their Stories

Overview:

• Explains why the stories of people who have Alzheimer’s are difficult to listen to
• Discusses why a person shouldn’t assume a story is untrue
• Questions and guidance to follow and try to respond and recognize the purpose behind their story
• Emphasises the importance and value of responding sympathetically

Description:

This chapter deals with the stories that people with Alzheimer’s tell about themselves. These can be particularly difficult to cope with unless the carer looks beyond the fact that they simply aren’t true and start recognising the purposes that they serve for their tellers, which is what this chapter guides and encouragers the reader to do.

Topics:

• Why these stories are often difficult to listen to
• Don’t automatically assume a story is untrue
  • Some stories may be substantially true
  • However fantastic the story, the person isn’t lying
• Recognise and respond to the purpose behind the story
  • Storytelling as a means of interaction
  • ‘My story tells you that I am still someone of value’
  • Stories of wish fulfilment
  • Claiming our sympathy
  • Using one subject to talk about another - stories as metaphor
• The value of responding sympathetically
  • Constructing an identity out of the fragments to hand
  • Their need for our sympathetic support

Jane Crisp

Dr Jane Crisp has retired recently as a lecturer in communication, media studies and women’s studies at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. She now holds an honorary position there as Adjunct Senior Lecturer. When Jane’s mother, who lived in New Zealand, was diagnosed with dementia Jane found her professional studies of great help in her efforts to keep in touch. Since 1990 Jane has been studying the language of people who are dementing and working out strategies for making sense of the way they speak. She has given talks on this work, and had articles published, both in Australia and overseas. 

Jane has spent much time in France, meeting and exchanging ideas with researchers and carers involved with people who are dementing, and visiting specialised care units. She is married, with a son and a brand new granddaughter.

Professional Reviews:

Very useful clearly articulated information with real life examples.