Since its inception, the Alzheimer’s Association has been a leader in outlining principles and practices of quality care for individuals living with dementia. Early on, our Guidelines for Dignity described goals for quality care, followed by Key Elements of Dementia Care and the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations, as more evidence became available. In this new iteration, the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations outline recommendations for quality care practices based on a comprehensive review of current evidence, best practice and expert opinion.
The Dementia Care Practice Recommendations were developed to better define quality care across all care settings and throughout the disease course. They are intended for professional care providers who work with individuals living with dementia and their families in long-term and community-based care settings. The Practice Recommendations are published as a supplement to The Gerontologist.
The Dementia Care Practice Recommendations provide some ways to be successful in providing person-centered care:
- Our goal is to make sure we have the knowledge of the unique and complete person that we are caring for – this includes his/her values, beliefs, interests, abilities, likes, and dislikes— both past and present. This may change and grow through the building of therapeutic relationships and the ongoing re-assessment of needs and preferences.
- It is also important to see the world from the perspective of the individual living with dementia. Doing so recognizes behavior as a form of communication, thereby promoting effective and empathetic communication that validates feelings and connects with the individual in their reality.
- We want to provide meaningful engagement and so recognize that every experience and interaction we have with an individual can be seen as an opportunity for engagement. Engagement should be meaningful to, and purposeful for, the individual living with dementia. It should support their interests and preferences, allow for choice and success, and recognize that even when the dementia is most severe, the person can experience joy, comfort, and meaning in life.
- Persons living with dementia should be part of relationships that treat them with dignity and respect, and where their individuality is always supported. This type of caring relationship is about being present and concentrating on the interaction, rather than the task. It is about “doing with” rather than “doing for” as part of a supportive and mutually beneficial relationship.
- We want to create and maintain a supportive community for individuals, families, and staff as this allows for comfort and creates opportunities for success. It is a community that values each person and respects individual differences, celebrates accomplishments and occasions, and provides access to and opportunities for autonomy, engagement, and shared experiences.
- And last, the recommendations state that we need to evaluate care practices regularly and make appropriate changes. There are several tools available to assess person-centered care practices for people living with dementia. It is important to regularly evaluate practices and models, share findings, and make changes to interactions, programs, and practices as needed.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dementia care and what it looks like will depend on each individual that you support.
The Alzheimer’s Association through the North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program offers a Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals virtual class twice monthly. Attendees will learn how to implement person-centered care in all aspects of dementia care as well as learn appropriate dementia care techniques in line with nationally recognized Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations in 5 key topic areas:
- Fundamentals of Person-Centered Care
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- Assessment and Care Planning
- Dementia-Related Behaviors and Communication
- Support of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
This class is FREE and 3 CEUs are available. It is supported by funding granted through the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Aging Service Division.
Education Opportunities for August – September:
Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Wednesday, August 7 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm (CT)
Register Today
Responding to Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias: ND Law Enforcement/ First Responders
Tuesday, August 27 | 1:00 – 3:00 pm (CT)
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Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Wednesday, August 28 | 8:00 – 11:00 am (CT)
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Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Friday, September 13 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (CT)
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Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Thursday, September 26 & Friday, September 27 | 10:00 – 11:30 am (CT)
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Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Tuesday, October 8 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm (CT)
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Person-Centered Dementia Care: Recommendations for Professionals
Thursday, October 24 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm (CT)
Register Today
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias.
