How can you work in a person-centred way when supporting an individual with dementia?

Oct 19, 2025 5 min read •

Dementia Care elder care Person-Centred Care

According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people are currently living with dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to grow. Working in a person-centred way when supporting an individual with dementia shifts the focus from managing a condition to honoring the unique person, their history, and their strengths. This approach is fundamental to maintaining dignity, well-being, and a sense of self throughout their journey.

Quick Summary

A person-centred approach to dementia care prioritizes an individual's unique needs, values, and life history. It involves tailored communication, creating a supportive environment, and offering meaningful activities to promote dignity, independence, and well-being. Caregivers learn to see beyond the diagnosis and form meaningful, trusting relationships.

Key Points

Know Their Story: Invest time in learning the individual's history, interests, and preferences to build meaningful connections and tailor care.
Communicate with Care: Use clear, simple language, validate their feelings instead of correcting facts, and rely on non-verbal cues like tone and touch.
Adapt the Environment: Personalize their space with familiar items and use visual cues and sensory adjustments to reduce confusion and create comfort.
Promote Meaningful Engagement: Encourage participation in activities based on their personal interests and abilities, focusing on joy rather than a perfect outcome.
Prioritize the Relationship: Focus on building a trusting, respectful relationship rather than just completing tasks to maintain their dignity and well-being.
Balance Autonomy and Safety: Implement strategies that protect the individual without compromising their sense of independence and choice.
Remember Emotions Matter: View behaviors as a form of communication, often signaling unmet needs, and respond with empathy and understanding.

The Foundational Principles of Person-Centred Dementia Care

Person-centred care (PCC) is a philosophy that places the individual with dementia, not the disease, at the core of all care decisions. This holistic approach acknowledges that a person's emotions, desires, and identity remain, even as cognitive functions change. Developed from the work of psychologist Tom Kitwood, PCC emphasizes 'personhood'—the intrinsic value of every individual. Adopting this approach fundamentally changes the dynamic between caregiver and individual, fostering a relationship built on trust and respect.

Knowing the Individual: The Life Story Approach

A crucial step in working in a person-centred way is taking the time to truly know the person you are supporting.

Create a Life Story: A life story book, video, or simple collection of notes can help caregivers understand the individual's past interests, preferences, and significant life events. This offers a powerful tool for conversation and connection, helping to ground the person and evoke positive memories. It provides context for their values, beliefs, and social framework.
Involve Family: Family members are invaluable sources of information about their loved one's history. By involving them in care planning, you can gain deeper insights into the person's personality, routines, and cultural background.
Observe and Listen: Paying close attention to verbal cues, body language, and emotions can reveal what is important to the individual and what might be causing them distress. A behavior is often a form of communication, and understanding its root cause is a cornerstone of PCC.

Communication Strategies for Meaningful Connection

Effective communication is paramount when supporting someone with dementia, and it relies on more than just verbal exchange. As the disease progresses, caregivers must adapt their methods to maintain meaningful interaction.

Set a Positive Tone: Approach interactions with a calm, positive, and reassuring demeanor. Your body language and tone of voice can be more impactful than your words.
Simplify Your Language: Use clear, simple sentences and avoid multi-step instructions or open-ended questions that may cause confusion. Offering a choice between two options is often more effective than asking an open-ended question.
Validate Feelings, Not Facts: When a person with dementia is confused or recalling something incorrectly, avoid correcting them. Instead, respond to the emotion behind their words. If they are distressed about wanting to go home, focus on comforting them rather than explaining that they are already there.
Embrace Non-Verbal Cues: As verbal abilities decline, eye contact, a gentle touch, or a reassuring smile become increasingly important forms of communication. Humor, used respectfully, can also be a powerful tool for connection and lightening the mood.

The Power of a Supportive Environment

The physical environment can significantly impact a person with dementia, influencing their behavior, mood, and sense of safety. Thoughtful adaptations can reduce confusion and promote independence.

Reduce Clutter and Hazards: A clutter-free space with clear, well-lit pathways reduces the risk of falls and minimizes visual overwhelm.
Use Visual Cues: Clear, simple signage with words and pictures can help with orientation. Using contrasting colors for key items, like plate settings or door frames, can also aid in visibility.
Incorporate Familiar Items: Personalizing living spaces with familiar photos, mementos, and furniture can provide a sense of comfort, identity, and belonging.
Optimize Sensory Stimulation: Manage noise levels to prevent overstimulation, and incorporate soothing sensory elements like familiar music, pleasant smells, or a comfortable blanket. Access to a secure outdoor space or garden can also be beneficial.

Meaningful Activities and Engagement

Engaging a person with dementia in meaningful, personalized activities can significantly improve their mood, reduce agitation, and provide a sense of purpose.

Tailor Activities to Interests: Use knowledge of the person's life history to select activities they have always enjoyed. For a former gardener, tending to an indoor plant might bring joy. For a music lover, listening to familiar tunes can be very calming.
Focus on Process, Not Outcome: The goal is to provide engagement and enjoyment, not to produce a perfect result. Acknowledge and praise their effort and participation, regardless of the outcome.
Create Structured Routines: Consistent daily and weekly routines provide stability and predictability, which can reduce anxiety and confusion. Flexibility is still key, however, to adapt to the individual's mood and needs.

Comparison: Traditional vs. Person-Centred Dementia Care


Feature	Traditional Care Approach	Person-Centred Care Approach
Focus	Primarily on managing symptoms, safety, and physical needs.	Holistic well-being, including emotional, social, and psychological needs.
Care Plans	Often standardized and based on clinical diagnoses and facility schedules.	Highly individualized, flexible, and adapted to personal history and preferences.
Activities	Scheduled group activities, often based on general therapeutic goals.	Meaningful, tailored activities that reflect the individual's interests and abilities.
Environment	Often clinical and institutional, with routines for staff convenience.	Homelike, personalized, and adapted to support independence and comfort.
Staff Interaction	Task-oriented, focusing on completing care routines efficiently.	Relationship-centered, prioritizing meaningful engagement and trust.
Decision-Making	Centralized, with minimal input from the person receiving care.	Involves the person and their family in care decisions to the fullest extent possible.

Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Person-Centred Care

Implementing PCC is not without its challenges, including time constraints, staff training, and balancing safety with independence. Solutions often involve:

Comprehensive Staff Training: Investing in training for all staff—not just direct caregivers—helps ensure a consistent, person-centred culture. This training should cover communication techniques, understanding behavior, and practical strategies.
Supporting Caregivers: Caregivers, both professional and family, face high risks of burnout. Providing support systems, resources, and opportunities for respite is critical for sustaining high-quality care.
Balancing Safety and Autonomy: Finding the right balance between keeping an individual safe and respecting their independence is crucial. For example, using unobtrusive monitoring technology or secured outdoor spaces can allow for freedom of movement without excessive risk. The 'Best Life' approach highlights the dignity of respecting the right to take risks, balanced with informed judgment.

Conclusion

Working in a person-centred way when supporting an individual with dementia is a transformative approach that honors their identity, promotes their well-being, and preserves their dignity. By focusing on individual needs, using effective communication strategies, creating a supportive environment, and embracing meaningful engagement, caregivers can move beyond managing symptoms to truly enriching the individual's life. While challenges exist, a dedicated commitment to this philosophy, backed by proper training and support, can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia and their families, fostering deeper, more respectful, and compassionate relationships.

Visit the Alzheimer's Association website for additional resources and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Person-centred care for dementia is a holistic approach that focuses on the individual's unique needs, preferences, and values, rather than just their cognitive impairments. It aims to preserve their dignity, enhance their well-being, and empower them to live as fully as possible.

Traditional care often focuses on managing symptoms and following facility schedules, with interactions being task-oriented. Person-centred care, by contrast, tailors care to the individual, prioritizes relationships, and makes the environment more homelike.

Effective communication involves using simple, clear language, speaking in a calm and respectful tone, and paying attention to non-verbal cues like body language and eye contact. It is often more helpful to validate the person's feelings rather than correct factual errors.

Instead of correcting them, respond with patience and reassurance. Try to find the underlying feeling or need they are trying to express. You can use the same words to repeat your message or wait a few minutes before addressing it again.

The best activities are meaningful and personalized to the individual's past interests and abilities. This could include anything from listening to familiar music and looking at old photographs to simple gardening or art projects.

Making the environment more dementia-friendly involves reducing clutter, using clear signage with contrasting colors, and incorporating familiar objects. Ensuring good lighting and a secure outdoor space can also be beneficial.

This can be achieved by using assistive technology discreetly, such as monitoring systems or GPS trackers, to ensure safety without overly restricting freedom. Involve the individual in decisions about their environment when possible to promote autonomy.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.