Wandering in Dementia and Trust as an Anticipatory Action

Med Anthropol. 2019 Jan;38(1):59-70. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2018.1465421. Epub 2018 May 14.

Abstract

The increase of dementia makes cognitive disorder a global challenge. Even if wandering is not a symptom of dementia in general, professionals and scientists dominate the definition of wandering as an aimless movement of people with cognitive impairment, mainly dementia. In consequence, professional types of wandering management were elaborated trying to avoid or replace it. However, this can cause negative effects. The article analyses an apparently common informal type of wandering management. It consists of slipping an address paper in the wallet of the ill person. The analysis reveals that this practice is normatively structured by a gift of trust.

Keywords: Anticipation; confiance; dementia; don; démence; errance; figure sociale; gift; social figure; trust; wandering.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy
  • Anthropology, Medical
  • Caregivers / psychology
  • Dementia / physiopathology
  • Dementia / psychology*
  • Dementia / therapy
  • Family / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Trust / psychology*
  • Wandering Behavior*