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What is person-centred dementia care?
Personalised, highly tailored dementia care from experienced, trusted Care Professionals to give families peace of mind that their loved one is in good hands when they are not around.
What is dementia care?
Dementia care is a specialist type of care for people diagnosed with dementia conditions such as Alzheimer’s. This type of care is designed for those with symptoms of cognitive decline who struggle with things like memory loss, impaired decision making, and communication issues.
Providing dementia care at home may be preferred, as this allows those with cognitive issues to continue their daily routines in a familiar environment where they feel safe. Dementia care may include assistance with:
- Personal care
- Meal preparation and cooking
- Mobility care (if needed)
- Medication management
- Managing challenging behaviours such as hallucinations or “sundowning”
- Facilitating mentally stimulating activities like games
Helping manage the later stages of dementia
What does “person-centred” mean in the context of care?
The Alzheimer’s Society describes person-centred dementia care as: “…tailoring a person’s care to their interests, abilities, history and personality.” This typically involves focusing on their everyday needs while also considering their dignity, preferred lifestyle, likes and dislikes, hobbies, loved ones, and more. Person-centred care means looking at each new care challenge through their eyes to determine how their care should be carried out.
Caregivers usually take time to get to know the person in order to provide the very best person-centred care, and while staff in residential care facilities may find it difficult to provide person-centred dementia care with so many residents to look after, home care makes this highly possible.
How important is person-centred dementia care?
There are many benefits to choosing one-to-one person-centred dementia care that fits into each person’s life to provide practical companionship. Person-centred care gives a person with dementia more control over their daily routines, and could even provide better health outcomes since quality care has been found to help reduce hospitalisation, and delay or prevent a move to a residential care facility.
A 2017 study on the effectiveness of person-centred care for dementia found that this can help to reduce agitation, neuropsychiatric symptoms and depression, as well as improve quality of life. Ultimately, person-centred care for those with dementia rejects a one-size-fits-all approach and keeps the focus on who they are as an individual.
How can we help?
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Other non-care-related enquiries
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Home Instead have an experienced caring team that far exceeds in quality anything we experienced from other agencies at this point of service.
Steve, Client
Home Instead have been looking after my father for a few years now, without them we would not be able to manage having him living in his own home. They are always bright and cheerful and Dad enjoys seeing them.
Bridget, Client's Family
Home Instead provide first class care. My care professionals are patient, kind and very reliable. I am very happy with the service they provide.
Paul, Client
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Get in touch How to get started arranging person-centred dementia care
If you believe you or a loved one could benefit from person-centred dementia care, the first step is usually to arrange a Care Needs Assessment through a GP. This means a team from the local council will visit the person’s home to discuss options and provide an estimate of how much this might cost, or whether you will be eligible for funded care.
Person-centred care may be unavailable in residential care settings or with regular home care arranged through your local council, but this is possible with private care options like Home Instead. We take time to not only select Care Professionals based on qualifications and experience, but also match clients with those who complement their personality, so people with dementia feel more at ease.
Why Home Instead?
Our unique dementia carer training programme is City & Guilds Assured and designed to be delivered in the home care environment. The training was developed with leading ageing experts, dementia specialists and key medical practitioners from around the world, so you can rest assured that your loved one with dementia is receiving only the highest quality, most tailored care available to them.
We are proudly rated 9.6 on Homecare.co.uk, with many of our locations also rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Person-centred care can be crucial for older people living with dementia, putting their needs and preferences front and centre, and giving them more control over their days to improve their quality of life.
Advice & Support
FAQs
- What is person-centred dementia care?
Person-centred dementia care focuses on treating individuals with dementia as unique people, rather than just focusing on their condition. It involves understanding their personal history, preferences, values, and needs to provide care that respects their dignity, promotes independence, and enhances their quality of life.
- Why is person-centred care important for people with dementia?
Person-centred care is important because it:
- Recognises the individual behind the diagnosis.
- Helps maintain a sense of identity and self-worth.
- Reduces feelings of confusion, frustration, and anxiety.
- Improves emotional well-being and quality of life.
- Encourages meaningful engagement and social interaction.
- What are the key principles of person-centred dementia care?
The key principles include:
- Individuality: Tailoring care to the person’s unique needs and preferences.
- Empathy: Understanding and validating their feelings and experiences.
- Respect: Treating them with dignity and honouring their choices.
- Involvement: Encouraging participation in decisions about their care.
- Environment: Creating a safe, familiar, and supportive setting.
- How does person-centred care work in a home care setting?
In a home care setting, person-centred care involves:
- Developing a personalised care plan based on the individual’s history, likes, and dislikes.
- Building a trusting relationship between the carer and the person with dementia.
- Supporting independence by encouraging them to do tasks they are still capable of.
- Using familiar routines and surroundings to reduce confusion.
- Providing emotional support and meaningful activities to enhance well-being.
- How can I find person-centred dementia care services?
To find person-centred dementia care services:
- Look for care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- Ask about their approach to dementia care and how they personalise support.
- Seek recommendations from organisations like Alzheimer’s Society or Age UK.
- Arrange a consultation to discuss your loved one’s needs and preferences.
- Check for carers trained in dementia care and person-centred practices.
All the Care Professionals at Home Instead who take care of individuals with dementia are trained on person-centred care principles, so you can be confident that your loved one is in safe hands with us, no matter how challenging their condition may be.