Redesign Your Dementia Care: A 'Must Read'

Our current bio-medical approach to dementia care focuses almost exclusively on the physical condition of the person, yet we know that health and well-being are dependent on the full spectrum of psycho-social-spiritual dimensions.

A new white paper entitled 'Dementia Care - The Quality Chasm' summarizes key core values and philosophy that form the foundation for person-centered dementia care. These are:

1. The recognition the full scope of life experience and meaning does not end with a diagnosis of dementia.
2. Focusing on the strengths of the person living with dementia, rather than what has been lost.
3. "Entering the world” of the person living with dementia to best understand their behavioral expressions.

The paper also outlines an array of personalized practices that are not merely “interventions,” but recognize that people are multi-faceted, and individual practices are the specific ways of supporting the personhood of each person who has dementia.

Samples of such practices are summarized into categories than span the continuum from relationships and community, governance, leadership, workforce, meaningful life, services, community and accountability. Lastly, the paper provides a set of excellent recommendations, by setting and provider, to reach this goal of true person-centered dementia care.

Many LeadingAge members are recognized leaders in the area of developing value-based care practices for people with dementia. This paper can help all of us better understand many of the current gaps in care and provide specific direction for where we can improve in this critical mission.