For dementia care to be truly effective, it must be person-centered and recognize that each individual is more than their diagnosis.
Like everyone else, each person with dementia has a unique life story, preferences, and emotions that shape their identity and experiences. Care must be personalized and honor their dignity, choices, history, rights, and sense of self. Focusing on the person rather than the condition can foster meaningful connections, encourage engagement in life, enhance well-being, and empower autonomy.
Person-centered language positively shapes our attitudes, actions, and outcomes.
The way we speak “about” and “to” individuals with dementia influences not only our perceptions and actions toward them but also their responses, dignity, and overall well-being. Thus, we must use positive, caring, person-centered language in every interaction and conversation.
Meaningful relationships are crucial to the quality of life of individuals with dementia.
Positive and caring connections with peers, staff, community members, and loved ones contribute to the emotional well-being and overall health of a person with dementia. Trust plays a vital role in fostering caring relationships between staff and those living with dementia and can be promoted through consistency, compassionate communication, validation, and empathy.
A supportive environment is the foundation of effective dementia care and impacts comfort, independence, and well-being.
The most effective care settings integrate physical and social environments to create a sense of security, familiarity, and belonging. Individuals should feel free to express themselves, move safely within their environment, and live in a way that is meaningful to them. They should also have opportunities to engage in activities of interest, conversations, and relationships with others. A genuinely supportive space nurtures independence and identity and ensures that every person is seen, acknowledged, and valued.
Communication is more than words; it is also visual, non-verbal, and behavioral.
As dementia progresses, individuals living with dementia often rely more on non-verbal communication than other forms, making it crucial for staff to be able to interpret and understand gestures, facial expressions, behaviors, and other expressions of body language to meet the needs of individuals with dementia. Equally important, staff must be mindful of their non-verbal communication and use it intentionally to foster understanding, defuse anxiety, fear, and aggression, provide comfort, and create positive, supportive interactions.
Behavior is a form of communication and should be regarded as an effort to express a need rather than a problem or challenge.
When we perceive behaviors as “problematic” or “challenging,” we tend to view the individual displaying them as a challenge or problem and treat them accordingly. For this reason, we need to look for the reason behind every behavior and ask “why” it is happening. Doing this reduces stigma while increasing our empathy and enables us to focus on the root cause of the behavior so we can better de-escalate situations and prevent future occurrences.
Staff and family members should be viewed as “care partners” rather than “caregivers” to reflect the collaborative relationship between individuals with dementia, their families, and staff in care settings.
Unlike the term “caregiver,” which implies doing things for or to the person, “care partner” better aligns with person-centered philosophy and emphasizes shared responsibility, independence, and active engagement in care by the person with dementia. This approach encourages collaboration while reinforcing the person with dementia’s dignity, autonomy, and sense of self. In addition, the involvement of family members can enhance quality of care and care outcomes.
When we welcome a person with dementia into our programs and residential communities, supporting their family members and informal caregivers is part of our work. Family members provide familiarity, emotional comfort, and a vital connection to the past for their loved ones with dementia and are essential partners in their care.
To empower informal care partners and family members throughout their loved one’s journey, we must offer education, resources, support, guidance, and the opportunity to actively engage in their loved one’s care.
Research suggests that depression is prevalent in individuals with dementia, thus it needs to be addressed to ensure overall well-being and quality of life.
Depression can lead to anxiety and increased dementia behaviors that can interfere with the person with dementia’s quality of life. Early identification and appropriate interventions are critical to enhancing quality of life and overall well-being.
Sexuality and intimacy are fundamental human needs that need to be respected.
A dementia diagnosis does not eliminate the need for intimacy and sexuality but rather makes it more difficult to express. Dementia can impact a person with dementia’s ability to make appropriate choices about when, how, and with whom they are engaged. It is staff members’ responsibility to respond to situations in a sensitive, dignified, and respectful manner while enabling them to express these basic human needs without infringing upon the rights of others.
Sensory stimulation, pet therapy, music, art therapy, and reminiscence are powerful tools in memory care. They should be offered according to personal preferences and before medications when appropriate.
Research supports sensory stimulation, pet therapy, music, art therapy, and reminiscence as best practices in dementia care. These interventions can evoke memories, reduce agitation, provide stimulation, calm, and enhance mood, while providing meaningful engagement.
Engagement in activities and connections with others are not optional; they are essential to well-being, quality of life, and the fulfillment of basic human needs.
Meaningful activities support the well-being of individuals with dementia, including emotional, physical, social, spiritual, environmental, cognitive, and physical well-being and the need to have a sense of purpose and be productive. Activities also help fulfill our physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs, as outlined by Abraham Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs.
Activities are everyone’s responsibility.
Every interaction with a person with dementia is a chance to create a moment of joy and provide a meaningful experience that enhances their quality of life. Sharing a laugh, having a brief conversation, or offering a simple activity can make a difference while reducing loneliness and isolation and providing cognitive stimulation. It is everyone’s responsibility to provide these opportunities.
Diversity enhances the quality of dementia care and should be celebrated.
Valuing, understanding, and respecting the uniqueness of every individual with dementia, our peers, and other care professionals foster a more inclusive and effective care environment. It also enables us to better meet the needs of individuals with dementia.
Living with dementia and providing care for those with dementia can be stressful, and it is important to address this stress to create a calm and supportive environment for effective care.
Proactively identifying stressors, understanding how stress affects each person involved, and offering stress management strategies for individuals with dementia who have a lower threshold for stress, their families, and staff are essential for maintaining well-being, resilience, and quality of life for everyone involved.
Wandering can offer significant health benefits within a secure environment.
When safely managed, wandering promotes independence, strengthens muscles, improves sleep and balance, increases appetite, and reduces stress and anxiety. For these reasons, it is essential to create a secure environment that offers safety and security without infringing on the rights of others.
Spiritual and religious practices are essential for connection, purpose, and identity.
Beyond rituals and beliefs, spiritual and religious activities offer emotional support, reinforce personal history and identity, and contribute to an individual’s sense of purpose and belonging.
