- My subject/question and why I am looking at it
- Why should we care about the elderly, in particular dementia sufferers
- Aims of the essay (what do I want to the reader to get out of it)
- Roughly introduce my key texts and theorists and how they will be supporting this argument (briefly!)
Chapter 1 (3000 words max)
- Statistics of the elderly in the UK (numbers, lifespan, rising population, estimated population etc, issues.)
- How people currently view the elderly in the UK (attitudes, money vs.time, family, government, capitalism; Marx?)
- Introduce dementia; more stats, current research efforts, shock factors, negative symptoms
- Foucault - "Madness and Civilisation"; the treatment of the mentally ill, how this links with the current attitudes of the elderly, in particular dementia...
- ...back up with little bit about mental health awareness day and reference image, why should dementia be more involved in mental health awareness.
- The current favoured treatments for dementia (drugs/medicalisation) and the availability of other therapies, NHS vs. Private
- Negative findings in relation to drug treatments
- Summary of creative therapies (what is it), how it works for dementia sufferers and why it could be better for many than psychoactive drug treatments (quality of life!)
- Palliative care - what is it, why dementia should be being given the same attention and treatment (quality of life!)
- Amabile and Kramer - "The Progress Principle"; explain and apply to dementia (quality of life!)
- Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs - explain and apply to dementia
Chapter 2 - Case Studies (3000 words max)
- Alzhiemers.org examples
- Snoezelen and sensory stimulation - apply to dementia, give positive examples
- The Hen Power Project - explain what it is, give some positive examples, give my findings (hopefully!), link to practical project and how this is a personal case study (synthesis)
- Prinzhorn - works of art, why is it relevant, link to dementia (bring in stuff from the article to do with the elderly giving back into society by being involved in the arts)
- The writing cure? (still need to research! Link to dementia)
Conclusion (1000 words)
- Revisit why I think it's important to care about the elderly, in particular dementia sufferers
- Why more focus should be given to creative therapies - highlight benefits
- What we should do to be able to give more opportunities for creative therapies; voluntary local workshops, working with the older generations
- What we as younger generations can learn and gain from the elderly; how will it benefit us to make the effort? What can they give back to society and how can this help people see that they are "productive"?
- How this will help build relationships, respect and trust within society between generations - end on a nicer note
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