GANGGUAN EKSPRESI BERBAHASA PADA PENDERITA DEMENSIA DI KOTA SURAKARTA (Studi Psikolinguistik Melemahnya Kemampuan Mengenal Diri, Keluarga Dekat, dan Sejarah Penting Indonesia)

Abstract

This paper discusses the phenomenon of dementia suffered by old people residing in three elderly houses in Surakarta, Panti Wreda Dharma Bakti, Aisyiah, dan Theresia. Data were collected by interviewing such old people as well as the elderly houses management. They were any aspect related to their ability in recognizing their own personal identities, their nucleus family, and main historical aspects of Indonesia which they are supposed to be part of them. The results show that most of the respondents get difficulty in recognizing their own personal information. Several respondents do not remember the name of their spouses, the name of their father/ mother, the date of their birth. A positive correlation happens between their routines and their strength of memory. Respondents with higher education level have a better capability to mention names of presidents of Republic of Indonesia, while those who do daily prayers can enlist the name of the prayers according to time, have good memorization for short surah of Al-Quran, and have low level of dementia. This shows that using language is a skill which is carried out through a process.