NXNews-Issue9-FINAL-ForWeb -160916LowRes

DEMENTIA CARE | PRACTICAL TIPS
Dementia Care
Quality of life
Make a difference every day with practical tips
for great person-centred care
Dementia is becoming increasingly
prevalent in the UK as up to 850,000 people
live with it in some form. It’s progressive,
degenerative and one of the greatest health
challenges of our time. The experience of
families watching the deterioration of a loved
one as their memories slowly fade is heart
breaking.
As nurses, care assistants and support
workers, we can make this time less distressing
for both the person and their family by focusing on
promoting quality of life. Person-centred care that
supports wellbeing and independence can help
the individual with dementia retain their dignity
and identity for as long as possible.
Person-centred care simply means ensuring the
individual and their needs are at the centre of
everything we do as health professionals. Their
abilities should be promoted and choices
respected, which can be difficult, especially in the
latter stages of dementia as memory and
decision-making declines.
In addition to providing patient, compassionate
care, we can also help to make the physical
environment more dementia friendly in the
following ways.
Maximise natural light during the day
and darkness at night
Natural light is important for a person to know
where they are in their surroundings but also
whether it’s morning, evening or night. Try
opening the curtains and letting as much light
in during the day and closing them at night. The
visual clues as to the time of day will help someone
feel more grounded in their daily routine.
Minimise trip hazards, uneven
surfaces and obstacles
Changes in the texture or colour of a floor can be
a trip hazard for someone with dementia. They
may view it as something to avoid or step over,
which could cause a fall. For instance, a darker
coloured doormat can look like a hole in the floor.
18 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com