Abstract
In this chapter we introduce the key arguments of this book. First, a posthumanist perspective helps understand and value the lives of people with dementia, and second, they are capable of learning and teaching. It introduces dementia as a global social issue and cultural phenomenon and critiques the dominant narratives of loss and punishment surrounding it. Drawing on interviews with families of people with dementia it acknowledges the pain they experience, but also introduces a hopeful posthumanist perspective on dementia. The chapter shows that although arts interventions have demonstrated their creative potential, people with dementia have been largely absent from lifelong learning literature and policy. Finally, it outlines the research studies that will be used in this book: Beyond Words and Making Bridges with Music .
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Quinn, J., Blandon, C. (2020). Introduction to Dementia and Lifelong Learning. In: Lifelong Learning and Dementia. Palgrave Studies in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42231-8_1
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