Saying hello to Mum.

Abstract

Writing was used as a method of inquiry in an autoethnographic study of the way Alzheimer's shapes my relationship with my mother. Poems and day-book reflective writing document aspects of the effects of the condition and of my response to it. In particular, I was interested in evoking an experience of ways in which the dynamics of the relationship are changed and renegotiated. A common view of Alzheimer's focuses on what has been lost. Following practices of Narrative Therapy for maintaining relationship with those who are no longer here, my intention has been to keep saying hello to Mum, as what is possible for our relationship is changed by her condition. In this article, poems are presented, accompanied by commentary, to speak into public conversations about Alzheimer's, standing alongside and disturbing the notion that Alzheimer's is a long goodbye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)