‘Typing with dementia’

Abstract

Background: While there is a substantial amount of pragmatic research on online health discourse, social media contexts actively involving persons living with dementia have been largely neglected so far. This study, which is rooted in the social-constructionist paradigm, explores processes of self-positioning on a public message board for persons living with dementia provided by a non-profit health organization. Method: The study is based on a pilot corpus of 15 sample threads on the public message board, and it investigates the referencing and predication practices employed by the members of this virtual community of practice. Results: Their interactions reveal processes of identity construction which clearly debunk the popular myth of ‘loss of self’ in dementia. Conclusion: Going beyond the categories, characteristics, and activities conventionally ascribed to persons living with dementia, participants challenge dementia-related stereotypes and ultimately contribute to a more multifaceted picture of living with dementia.