What type of care looks at the person instead of Alzheimer's disease?

According to research from the National Institute on Aging, person-centered care for dementia can lead to significant improvements in psychological symptoms and quality of life.

This guide will answer the question, what type of care looks at the person instead of Alzheimer's disease, exploring this compassionate, human-first philosophy.

Quick Summary

Person-centered care is the approach to dementia management that emphasizes the individual's unique history, preferences, and personality rather than focusing solely on the illness.

Key Points

• Person-Centered Care: This approach focuses on the individual's unique identity and life story, not just their Alzheimer's diagnosis.

• Empathy Over Correction: Rather than correcting misinformation, caregivers respond to the underlying emotions, validating the person's feelings.

• Tailored Activities: Meaningful engagement is achieved by planning activities based on the person's lifelong interests and hobbies.

• Supportive Environment: The physical space is adapted to reduce stress, confusion, and anxiety, creating a more familiar and calming setting.

• Improved Quality of Life: This holistic method leads to better psychological well-being, reduced agitation, and a greater sense of dignity for individuals with dementia.

Understanding the Shift to Person-Centered Care

Traditional approaches to dementia care often focus on managing the symptoms of the disease, such as memory loss, confusion, and behavioral changes. While necessary, this can sometimes reduce the person to their illness. Person-centered care, on the other hand, is a holistic philosophy that shifts the focus entirely. It recognizes that a person with Alzheimer's disease is still a person, with a rich life story, unique identity, and individual needs and feelings. Instead of treating a diagnosis, caregivers treat a human being, acknowledging their past, understanding their present, and working to enhance their quality of life.

This approach was significantly influenced by the work of British psychologist Tom Kitwood, who championed the idea of focusing on the 'personhood' of individuals with dementia. He argued that many of the challenging behaviors associated with dementia are not just symptoms of the disease but are a direct result of the psychological needs being unmet. By valuing and supporting the individual, person-centered care reduces distress and helps the person maintain their sense of self.

Core Principles of Person-Centered Care

The fundamental tenets of this care model can be broken down into several key principles:

• Valuing the Individual: Recognizing and respecting the person's unique life experiences, culture, personality, and beliefs.
• Fostering Positive Relationships: Focusing on empathy and connection between caregivers and the individual, built on trust and mutual respect.
• Understanding Behavior: Interpreting behaviors not as problems to be managed, but as a form of communication signaling an unmet need or emotion.
• Providing a Supportive Environment: Adapting the physical and social surroundings to feel safe, familiar, and stimulating, reducing confusion and anxiety.
• Enabling Choice and Independence: Supporting the person to make their own decisions and encouraging independence to the best of their ability.

How Person-Centered Care Differs from Traditional Care

To better understand the profound impact of this philosophy, comparing it with a traditional, disease-focused model is helpful. The table below illustrates some of the fundamental differences in approach.

Aspect	Traditional Care	Person-Centered Care
Focus	Primarily on the disease and its medical symptoms.	Primarily on the individual's unique life story, personality, and needs.
Routine	Strict, facility-driven schedules for activities, meals, and bathing.	Flexible routines tailored to the person's natural rhythms and preferences.
Communication	Emphasis on verbal communication and correcting misinformation.	Focus on feelings and non-verbal cues, joining the person's reality instead of correcting them.
Activities	Generic, one-size-fits-all group activities.	Individualized, meaningful activities based on the person's past hobbies and interests.
Behavior	Viewed as a medical symptom to be controlled, often with medication.	Viewed as a communication of an unmet need; requires investigation and compassionate response.
Environment	Standard, often institutional, design for ease of staff management.	Adapted to be familiar, safe, and homelike, reducing confusion and promoting comfort.

Implementing a Person-Centered Approach

For families and professional caregivers, implementing this care requires patience, creativity, and a deep sense of empathy. It is an ongoing process of learning and adapting to the person's changing needs and abilities. Here are some key steps for adoption:

1. Gather a Life Story: Create a detailed profile of the individual. What were their favorite foods? What was their profession? What are their greatest memories? Who are the important people in their life? This information is the foundation for personalization.
2. Use Therapeutic Communication: Learn to focus on the emotions behind the words. If a person asks to go home, instead of correcting them that they are home, respond to the feeling of missing home. For example, say, "Tell me about home," to validate their feelings.
3. Offer Meaningful Engagement: Plan activities that resonate with their personal history. If they loved gardening, offer a small potted plant to tend. If they were a baker, invite them to help with a simple, safe task in the kitchen. These connections maintain identity and purpose.
4. Create a Supportive Environment: Adapt their living space to feel familiar and reduce potential stressors. Use clear signage, familiar objects, and photos from their past. Minimize clutter and noise, which can be overwhelming.
5. Empower Small Choices: Offer choices throughout the day to support autonomy. Ask, "Would you like a sweater or a cardigan?" instead of just handing them a garment. These small decisions can significantly increase a person's sense of control.

The Profound Benefits of Focusing on the Person

This compassionate care model is proven to benefit not only the individual living with dementia but also their family and caregivers. When a person feels seen and valued, they are often calmer, more engaged, and experience fewer episodes of distress. This can reduce the reliance on medication to manage behavioral symptoms.

For families, it offers a way to continue connecting with their loved one beyond the disease, focusing on the person they still are. For caregivers, the work becomes more rewarding as they build meaningful relationships and see positive changes in the people they care for. The long-term impact on well-being, mood, and overall quality of life is substantial, moving beyond simply coping with symptoms towards truly living with dignity and joy.

For further reading on the history and principles of person-centered care, please consult resources from the Alzheimer's Association.

Conclusion: A Paradigm Shift in Senior Care

The care approach that looks at the person instead of Alzheimer's disease is person-centered care. It represents a paradigm shift away from a purely medical model toward a humanistic one. By embracing the individual's history, honoring their feelings, and creating a supportive environment, this philosophy offers a powerful way to provide compassionate and dignified care. It reminds us that even when memory fades, the essence of a person remains, and it is that essence that is most deserving of our care and attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is person-centered care?

Person-centered care is a philosophy of caregiving that focuses on the individual's unique needs, preferences, life history, and personality, rather than concentrating solely on their medical diagnosis, such as Alzheimer's disease. The goal is to provide a higher quality of life by supporting the person's sense of self.

How does person-centered care differ from traditional Alzheimer's care?

Traditional care often emphasizes rigid routines and symptom management. Person-centered care, by contrast, tailors routines and activities to the individual, prioritizes empathetic communication over factual correction, and views behavioral changes as a form of communication rather than just a symptom of the disease.

What kind of activities are used in person-centered care?

Activities are personalized based on the person's past. For example, if the individual was a musician, music therapy might be used. For someone who loved gardening, a simple garden plot or indoor plant might be provided. The focus is on meaningful engagement, not just occupying time.

Can family members implement person-centered care at home?

Yes, absolutely. Family caregivers can start by creating a 'life story' for their loved one, using validating communication techniques, and adapting the home environment to be more familiar and less confusing. Many resources are available to help families adopt this approach.

Does this type of care mean ignoring the Alzheimer's diagnosis?

No. It means acknowledging the diagnosis as one part of the person's experience, not the defining characteristic. Medical treatment and symptom management are still important, but they are integrated into a broader, more compassionate approach that honors the whole person.

What are the benefits of using person-centered care for someone with Alzheimer's disease?

Benefits include a reduced reliance on medication to manage behaviors, fewer episodes of agitation and anxiety, improved mood and sense of well-being, and a stronger connection between the individual and their caregivers. Ultimately, it helps preserve dignity.

Where can I find more information about what type of care looks at the person instead of Alzheimer's disease?

Authoritative sources like the Alzheimer's Association, the National Institute on Aging, and other reputable dementia support organizations offer extensive information and resources on person-centered care and its implementation.