Education and person-centred approaches to dementia care.

Abstract

An examination of the work of educational establishments and various independent bodies associated with the provision of dementia care suggests that there is an increasing number of courses being provided for those working in the field of dementia care. However, a review of the available literature suggests that there is a limited amount published on the best ways to approach planning and implementation in dementia care. One of the problems may be the diversity of professionals involved in the provision of care for people with dementia. It is no longer the case that the field is predominantly in the domain of qualified mental health nurses. The concept of person-centred care, developed by the late Tom Kitwood, has become a driving force in the philosophy of care for people with dementia, and could provide a valuable framework on which to base educational programmes. Person-centred care puts the needs of the person with dementia at the very heart of care provision. If those needs are also at the heart of education for people working in the field, then, arguably, the contents of an educational programme will reflect the needs of the person with dementia.