Dementia and Human Rights

by Suzanne Cahill

Overview

The time has come to further challenge biomedical and clinical thinking about dementia, which has for so long underpinned policy and practice. Framing dementia as a disability, this book takes a rights-based approach to expand the debate. Applying a social constructionist lens, it builds on earlier critical perspectives by bringing together concepts including disability, social inclusion, personhood, equality, participation, dignity, empowerment, autonomy and solidarity. Launching the debate into new and exciting territory, the book argues that people living with dementia come within the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and therefore have full entitlement to all the rights the Convention enshrines. A human rights-based approach has not to date been fully applied to interrogate the lived experience and policy response to dementia. With the fresh analytical tools provided in this book, policy makers and practitioners will will gain new insights into how this broader perspective can be used to further promote the quality of life and quality of care for all those affected by dementia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447331414
Publisher:	Policy Press
Publication date:	03/28/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	252
File size:	852 KB

About the Author

Suzanne Cahill has been employed as National Director of the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre based at St James’s Hospital in Ireland between 1999 and 2017. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. She has 30 years experience working in the field of ageing and dementia.

Table of Contents

List of tables and figures vi

Acknowledgements vii

Foreword xi

Part 1 A conceptual framework 1

1 An introduction to human rights and dementia 3

2 Dementia as a disability 27

3 Setting the context: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 47

Part 2 Using a human rights lens to interrogate policy and practice 69

4 The right to a good quality of life at home and in the community 71

5 The right to a good quality of life in care homes or in nursing homes 99

6 Emerging public policy on dementia: the implications of a human rights-based approach for policy and practice 131

7 Legal capacity for people with dementia: a human rights approach by Eilionóir Flynn 157

8 Conclusions: grounds for hope 175

References 189

Index 233

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This book is a down to earth, accessible translation of complex legal, sociological and ethical subjects and as such will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students of dementia, practitioners and policy makers alike.” Professor Kate Irving, Dublin City University

Editorial Reviews

Recommended. . .Powerfully advocates for person-centered principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment, and legality. A worthwhile addition to health policy and ethics collections.

Choice

This book is a down to earth, accessible translation of complex legal, sociological, and ethical subjects and as such will appeal to undergraduate and post-graduate students of dementia, practitioners, and policy makers alike.” 

Dublin City University Kate Irving