Leisure as resistance within the context of dementia

Abstract

Older adults are at risk of experiencing ageism, which can have negative implications for their quality of life. When diagnosed with dementia, older adults may experience increased stigma due to memory loss. However, leisure can be a space for resisting dominant ideologies, and older adults may use leisure to resist ageist stereotypes, leading to feelings of empowerment. Since persons with dementia experience increased stigma, leisure may be a space to resist stereotypical notions of dementia. This paper explores leisure as a space for resistance and presents a research agenda for researchers to better understand the political nature of leisure within the context of dementia.