STORIES FROM THE INSIDE OF DEMENTIA: CONSTRUCTING IDENTITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE DISCOURSE OF EXPERIENCE

Abstract Dementia is often characterized as a time of decline and loss. The grand narrative (i.e., the biomedical narrative) dementia describes it meaninglessness given inevitable loss memory language, fraught with difficulties recognizing familiar faces, recalling autobiographical events, orienting to place. This unfortunate depiction negatively positions people living ‘social death’ overlooks potential forming meaningful relationships experiencing sense community. Elements overlooked can be found in careful reading analysis individual interactions that make up constructions identity, relationships, In this symposium, we draw data from “Friendship Study,” 6-month ethnographic study on social environments long-term care consider meaning-making through three perspectives: phenomenological, gerontological, discursive. first paper considers phenomenology friendship, moving away linear narratives look at micro-constructions identity. second co-construction friendship discursive elements conversational interactions. third challenges staff’s construction residents, highlighting how negative assumptions about resident capabilities affect personal environment.