Performative empathy in dementia care: ethics and practice

Empathy is widely recognised as a cornerstone of high-quality dementia care. However, the emotional demands of caring for people with dementia placed on nurses and other professional caregivers may lead to situations where their empathic responses are performed rather than genuinely felt. This article examines the ethics and practice of 'performative empathy' when supporting people with dementia, particularly those who present with complex distressed behaviours. Drawing on theories of emotional labour and person-centred, relationship-centred and emotionally intelligent care, the article evaluates whether performative empathy may be ethically defensible, beneficial or even transformative. It also questions whether the appearance of empathy is distinguishable from authentic empathic engagement, and whether repeated empathic performance may foster genuine compassion in caregivers. The article concludes that there is a need for organisational support, reflective practice and training to ensure that emotional labour in dementia care is sustainable, ethically grounded and oriented towards the psychological well-being of people with dementia and caregivers.