How to Apply a Person Centred Approach to Dementia Care

A symposium in April 2008 helped change the thinking about nursing homes. The theme of the discussion, called "Creating Home in the Nursing Home," was person-centered care and living surroundings.

With this theme in mind, accomplish person-centered care in a nursing home by creating a homelike atmosphere.and centering residents' care on their interests, talents and preferences. Understand the individuality of each resident with dementia. An atmosphere that works for one person may not work for someone else. Preferences and needs may change from day to day. Awareness of the whole person challenges the caregiver. Bringing a smile to the faces of people who have dementia rewards those who care for them.

Things You'll Need

• Patience
• Understanding
• Compassion
• Knowledge

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Instructions

• 1

  Get a family history of the resident's past interests, jobs, siblings, children and hobbies by talking to family members, friends and the resident.

• 2

  Communicate with the resident in a way that he can best understand, using verbal reminders, gestures, written messages, or whatever it takes. He may have trouble finding words. Fill in the blanks for him. At the same time, compliment him.

• 3

  Observe the resident in his new environment. See what time he gets up naturally. Detect his current likes and dislikes. Determine what his behaviors are and what sets off problem behaviors.

• 4

  Nip agitated behavior in the bud. Divert and redirect. Do something to stop the unwanted behavior, then redirect him to another activity.

• 5

  Set his new room up with favorite items from his former home. Provide him with necessities like a television, clock, easy reading material or other things that delight him and improve his quality of life.

• 6

  Discover tips for environmental modifications that make life easier for the resident and the caregiver.

• 7

  Keep the resident safe. New surroundings and diminished identification skills might combine to put him at risk of interacting with his environment in a dangerous way; for example, he might try to eat inedible objects.

• 8

  Make sure you address the resident's cultural needs.

• 9

  Allow the resident to engage in group activities and in individual activities designed specifically for him. Adapt and modify an activity he used to enjoy.

• 10

  Determine what the resident's food preferences and dietary needs are.

• 11

  Enjoy the company of the person with dementia. Even though he may not be the same as he once was, he loves you and counts on you for support.