The preservation of self-identity in dementia is dependent upon
internal
(cognitive) and external (social) conditions. This study investigates the
integrity of self (internal) and personae (external) in dementia as indexed
by
the verbal and nonverbal behaviours of dementia residents and their caregivers
in a special care unit. Videotaped observations of spontaneous nursing
staff-resident interactions were collected over a three-day period. The recordings
were transcribed and subjected to detailed discourse analysis. Our analyses
focused on several indexicals of self and personae including personal pronouns,
proper nouns, interpersonal conflicts, and discursive positioning. The
findings
revealed that both self and personae are susceptible to decline in dementia.
However, the results also provide evidence that even in severe dementia
self
and personae can be indexed in a variety of ways. We discuss the important
role that caregivers can have in reinforcing self and personae in dementia.