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Dementia is classified as a syndrome and is a blanket term that surrounds a group of symptoms affecting the brains normal functions. It is associated with a large number of diseases of that affect the brain can primarily or secondary and can be chronic or progressive in nature (Alzheimer’s Disease International., & World Health Organization., 2012; Dementia (AIHW), 2017). The syndrome impacts cognitive functions including thinking, memory, comprehension, orientation, capacity to learn, judgement and emotional and social behaviour. The syndrome is not natural with aging; however, it does become more common with the elderly who are primarily affected (Alzheimer’s Disease International., & World Health Organization., 2012; Dementia (AIHW), 2017).

Aging or becoming old is a natural biological process that occurs throughout one’s life. However, what it means to be young or old is inherently socially constructed. This is where age is given meaning based on the personal and cultural experiences and interactions of the general population (Andrew, 2012). This relates to dementia in terms of how dementia patients can be stereotypically viewed as aged due their cognitive ability and dependence (Dionigi, 2015).

Old age as a social construction, dementia and healthcare can be linked to a various number of sociological concepts. These concepts and their relevant sociologists will be discussed throughout this essay. Some of these include emotional labour and how ageing, dementia and healthcare can not only affect the individual, but the people associated with them as well.

epidemiological data –

Dementia has become a rather prevalent illness in modern day society. In Australia in 2011 it was estimated that 298,000 people were living with dementia where 62% of those were women. It also indicated that 1.3% (1 in 77) of all Australian’s had dementia. 9% of those aged 65 and older had dementia and 30% of people aged 85 and older were suffering from the illness (Vanden Heuvel, Hudson, & Cargill, 2012). The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that dementia is more prevalent in low to middle-income countries where access to services and care are limited (Prince, Guerchet, & Prina, 2017). Alzheimers Australia have reported that the projected total population of people who will have dementia by 2050 will not change although is it estimated that 942,624 will be living with the illness (Deloitte Access Economics, 2011; Vanden Heuvel, Hudson, & Cargill, 2012). The percentage of males to females suffering dementia is also expected to stay roughly the same by 2050 with woman accounting for approximately 60%, down from 62% (Vanden Heuvel, Hudson, & Cargill, 2012).  This statement has been made since there currently exists no evidence to suggest otherwise and this increase in number of people can be associated with population growth. However, there is possibility for inaccuracy in this projection as increasing life expectancy and diagnostic techniques may cause this to rise by 2050 (Vanden Heuvel, Hudson, & Cargill, 2012).

People suffering with dementia are at an increased risk of death than those without dementia, with this risk increasing proportionate to the severity of the illness. In 2010, dementia was reported as the third leading cause of death in Australia behind Ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular diseases with a total of 9,003 deaths. Dementia was the leading cause of death in 9% of all female deaths in 2010 and 4% of all male deaths. It was also more likely to be the leading cause of death with age, with 89% of the total deaths of woman were aged 80 and older and 79% respectively for men.

In terms of costs, dementia patients currently place a greater cost on the Australian health system when compared to those without dementia (Cumming et al., 2013). There exists a longer average length of stay in hospitals for dementia patients due to the potential to cause poorer health outcomes and is because of the chronic nature of the disease and the potential health complications and risks that are associated with it (Cumming et al., 2013). In 2013, dementia patients cost the health care system an average of $7,720 during their time in hospital compared to a cost of $5,010 for those who did not have dementia (Cumming et al., 2013).

The following tables illustrate the data above including prevalence, mortality and over costs to the Australian healthcare system, highlighting inequalities that are present:

This set of epidemiological data supports that dementia is more prevalent in the aged population as well as highlighting inequalities between genders as more woman in Australia are living with the illness. There also exist inequalities associated with mortality between genders, and costs to the Australian healthcare system as more woman die from the disease than men and dementia sufferers are currently costing more during their hospitalisation.

sociology –

Relevant sociological concepts:

• Ageism
• Social norms
• Sex/gender Feminine/masculine social roles (mention seeing a doctor)
• Total institution – Goffman
• Dehumanising dementia patients
• Removing identify/letting them dement
• Cultural capital – Bourdieu
• Way to be towards dementia patients/social norms towards patients
• Emotional labour – Arlie Hochschild
• Medicalisation – Illich
• Intersectionality – Collins/Crenshaw
• Discrimination and stigma due to old age/health

Discussion:

There are sociological concepts and theories that are relevant to dementia and age as a social construction. These concepts include total institutions, cultural capital, emotional labour, medicalisation and intersectionality.

The concept of total institutions

conclusion –

references –

1. Alzheimer’s Disease International., & World Health Organization. (2012). Dementia: A Public Health Priority (1st ed., pp. 7-10). Geneva: World Health Organization.
2. Andrew, P. (2012). The social construction of age (1st ed.). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
3. Cumming, A., Faine, R., Vale, S., Rees, G., Cunningham, C., Skladzien, E., & Blake, S. (2013). Dementia care in hospitals (1st ed., pp. 1-30). Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
4. Deloitte Access Economics. (2011). DEMENTIA ACROSS AUSTRALIA: 2011-2050 (pp. 11-23). Alzheimer’s Australia. Retrieved from https://www.fightdementia.org.au/sites/default/files/20111014_Nat_Access_DemAcrossAust.pdf
5. Dementia (AIHW). (2017). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved 26 April 2017, from http://www.aihw.gov.au/dementia/
6. Dionigi, R. (2015). Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Older Adults. Journal Of Geriatrics, 2015(1), 1-9. DOI:/10.1155/2015/954027
7. Prince, M., Guerchet, M., & Prina, M. (2017). Dementia: a public health priority. World Health Organization. Retrieved 26 April 2017, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/en/
8. Vanden Heuvel, A., Hudson, C., & Cargill, J. (2012). Dementia in Australia (1st ed., pp. 22-31). Canberra: AIHW.