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INTRODUCTION

Social perceptions of older adults living with dementia substantially influence the care and services provided to this population, such as long-term care facilities (LTCs), which often have a poor, and sometimes even disastrous, reputation. This article aims to answer the following question: How is the dignity of residents in Quebec LTCs maintained in a context of institutionalization?

METHODOLOGY: An institutional ethnography was conducted in a long-term care facility. Data generation included participant observation (133 hours), leisure-time interviews with residents living with dementia (n=4), and an analysis of policies and internal documents.

RESULTS

The results highlight that dignity is maintained primarily through healthy, reciprocal social relationships and the sharing of past memories, which promote identity within these relationships.

DISCUSSION: Beyond cognitive impairments, residents remain capable of actively contributing to the institutional dynamics that shape everyday life in long-term care. These findings invite greater attention to the resources residents mobilize to sustain their dignity and to support a culture of care that values and fosters their capabilities.