Individuals with dementia find it increasingly more difficult to communicate their needs and understand the world. This can result in a resistance to care. In fact, 90% of people with dementia will experienced BPSD, which can include anxiety, apathy, restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, and reactive behavior.
Many things can trigger BPSD, such as pain, constipation, itching, sleep deprivation, lack of privacy, and a stressful environment.
Since BPSD greatly affects quality of life, it’s important to identify and minimize these triggers through person-centered care.
What is person-centered care?
Person-centered care means to treat the resident as an equal partner, helping them help themselves to improve their own independence, quality of life, and well-being and giving them the knowledge, assistance, and confidence to do so.
When caring for people with dementia, it’s important to treat them with dignity, compassion, and respect to help them develop their strengths and abilities to live an independent life and preserve their identity for as long as possible.
So, get to know the resident, talk to their relatives, and involve the individual in their own care. Participation in activities can help to prevent frustration and challenging behavior for residents. Manage any symptoms through music, massage, an active lifestyle, and spending time outdoors. It also helps to say and do one thing at a time, be patient, and wait for answers.
How can person-centered care improve symptoms of dementia?
Encouraging residents to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle, maintaining social interactions and a good, consistent sleeping routine, can improve symptoms of dementia.
Person-centered care improves symptoms of dementia
Person-centered incontinence care supports residents’ independence as much as possible. Here are some ways to achieve this, ensuring residents’ dignity, comfort, and safety.
- Assess the resident’s needs and set personalized times for toileting (TENA Identifi or a bladder diary are helpful tools).
- Observe signs of needing to go to the bathroom and help as needed
- Maintain independence by ensuring clothes and incontinence products are easy to put on and remove, like TENA Incontinence Underwear.
- Ensure residents know the way to the bathroom – clearly label the bathroom, light switch, and toilet seat.
- Leave the bathroom door open and the light on at night to make it easy to find. You could also put a commode next to the bed at night.
- Have easily accessible personal hygiene products so residents can maintain hygiene and skin health.
- Use mobility aids like a raised toilet seat and handrails.
