Thinking about the experience of dementia: The importance of the unconscious

This paper explores the challenge of comprehending the experience of dementia, and highlights the importance of understanding unconscious processes both at the level of the individual with dementia, and at the level of care-giving relationships in formal and informal settings. The contribution of insights from the research and clinical literature to understanding what may be happening at an unconscious level in dementia care settings is reviewed, and the implications for our understanding of the psychological needs of people with dementia and their carers are discussed.