When a loved one gets diagnosed with dementia, it can be difficult to know how to care for them in a way that’s going to help them rather than hinder their symptoms. Dementia is a complex condition that affects everyone differently, so common clinical treatment approaches might not work as effectively for your loved one as they do for others.
This is why more people are choosing to take a more person-centred approach, which provides a more compassionate and tailored way to support people living with dementia. Today, we’ll explore everything you need to know about person-centred dementia care and why it matters.
What Is Person-Centred Dementia Care?
For years, dementia care has revolved around supporting symptoms and facts we know about the disease. However, as dementia can manifest in many different ways, focusing on the condition isn’t always effective. Person-centred care transforms support by shifting the focus from the disease to the person, making it much more tailored, compassionate and effective.
Key principles of person-centred care include:
- Fostering dignity and respect: Ensure people with dementia are treated as highly as healthy individuals, regardless of cognitive impairment, other symptoms or age.
- Understanding individual perspective: Consider the client’s point of view and act with empathy rather than rushing to dismiss their beliefs.
- Improving relationships: Encourage meaningful connections with loved ones, friends and carers to boost mental well-being and provide a sense of belonging.
- Empowering autonomy: Help the person with dementia contribute to their care depending on their wants and preferences, supporting their choices and decisions.
Through patient-centred care, carers and loved ones can more easily manage challenging symptoms and behaviours with compassion and understanding. This approach also boosts emotional well-being and overall quality of life for those living with dementia.
Benefits of Person-Centred Dementia Care: Why It Matters
There are plenty of reasons why person-centred care matters—for the person living with dementia, their loved ones and carers.
Boosted Quality of Life
Person-centred care can significantly improve the quality of life for those experiencing dementia. Instead of focusing on reducing common symptoms, this approach tailors activities to the individual’s unique interests and abilities. Doing so helps ensure engagement in meaningful experiences, which can:
- Reduce feelings of agitation
- Boost mental well-being and reduce signs of depression
- Improve neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions
By focusing on things that bring joy and satisfaction, carers can create a stimulating and calming environment to boost quality of life.
Reduced Challenging Behaviours
Dementia can trigger several challenging behaviours that are difficult for loved ones and carers to manage, despite their experience and knowledge of the disease. Practising person-centred care can help you understand your loved one’s triggers, helping you notice and hopefully eliminate them before challenging behaviours present themselves.
By learning triggers and understanding the reason behind certain actions, you can respond more emphatically. This not only creates a calmer environment and minimises stress from both parties, but it also improves your relationship and reduces stressors that can influence negative behaviours, agitation and aggression.
Improved Emotional Well-Being
When a person with dementia feels like their personal preferences and values are listened to through person-centred care, their sense of identity and self-worth may increase. The individual’s personal history, emotional needs and personality should be valued and understood.
To maximise this care approach, carers need to acknowledge and support these aspects of a patient’s life. Once this is achieved and managed well, people with dementia can experience an improved sense of emotional well-being, reduced stress and better trust in carers.
Fostered Independence and Empowerment
By giving a person with dementia more time and attention through person-centred care, they’ll experience more autonomy in their daily routine and decisions. This gives them a much better sense of control, ensuring that they know you see them rather than their condition. This is a huge boost in self-esteem and empowerment, often having a knock-on effect on their mood and mental health.
No one should feel like they’re defined by their disease, and person-centred care aims to reduce this in the industry. Operating with empathy and putting yourself in their shoes can be an excellent way of reminding yourself of the importance of person-centred care and why it matters so much.
How Trinity Homecare Utilises Person-Centred Dementia Care
Trinity Homecare offers CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ live-in services that focus on and uphold the key principles of person-centred care. Through developing meaningful connections with matched carers and personalised care plans, we aim to create a nurturing environment for dementia patients.
There are several ways we at Trinity Homecare aim to utilise person-centred care in our everyday operations, such as:
Tailored Activities to Their Preferences and Hobbies
Trinity Homecare is committed to providing completely bespoke live-in care that has been tailored to your loved one, depending on their hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes. Through home care in a familiar environment, we can continue their daily routine without major disruptions to help keep them more comfortable and content.
Encouragement of Meaningful Connections
We’ll match your loved one with a fully trained, compassionate carer with extensive experience in dementia care, rather than creating a schedule with multiple carers, which might confuse them. A designated live-in or visiting carer allows them to foster and maintain a meaningful connection with someone who has their best interests at heart.
Memory Work to Improve Symptoms and Quality of Life
Memory and life story work is an essential component of person-centred dementia care. Our carers encourage all our clients and their loved ones to create resources for us to use for memory work, such as a dementia memory box, a family tree or life story books. We use these for memory exercises and to tailor care plans to their individual tastes.
Adjustments Around the Home
Trinity carers spend a lot of time at our clients’ homes, so making small adjustments to keep them safe and foster independence is a big part of our person-centred approach. We’ll make subtle changes to help them continue their daily routine without confusion or agitation, such as soothing lighting, quiet spaces and colour-coded designs. These adjustments make our clients feel valued and dignified despite an increasing level of dependence.
Trinity Homecare’s Commitment to Excellence
Our specialist carers offer one-to-one support at home, ensuring we have enough time for our clients with dementia without rushing visits or support. We ensure our clients feel satisfied and assured with the level of care they receive, providing enough time and attention to listen to their needs before incorporating them into their specific care plans.
We also offer emotional support for loved ones, ensuring everyone feels valued, listened to and confident as they navigate this new season of life together. No matter what stage of dementia your loved one is experiencing, Trinity Homecare prioritises individuality, independence and a strong commitment to compassionate care.
Talk to Our Team Today
If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.
Call us on 020 4572 5583 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
