| Summary: | An exploratory study of confusion in later life is the basis of the analysis which reveals the utility of status passage as a framework. The stereotypical notion of senility as an inevitable consequence of old age is so pervasive that confusion can be seen as a sub-passage of the late life status passage. Perceptions of confusion as a signal of a deteriorating condition profoundly affect the way in which others interact with those in a confused state. The importance of interaction to the articulation and shaping of the passage is investigated in two nursing homes offering similarly high standards of medical care. Participant observational periods preceded a series of individual conversational interviews with residents experiencing varying degrees of confusion. Data indicates that when the dependent status of confused residents is a salient feature as a result of the bureaucratic organisation of residents, the solo passage is given low priority. The passagee however, maintains a sense of self that is not recognised by agents responsible for front line care. In an institutional setting where 'person-work' is prevalent and frequent, positive interactions occur, there is much more individual variation in the shape of the sub-passages and the way in which they manage their sub-passages on an individual basis.
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