Caring for someone with dementia

An approach to dementia care which recognises and respects the individuality of the person with dementia will have a positive impact on their quality of life.

In the past we tended to presume that a person with dementia lost their individuality and personality during the course of their illness.

As physical damage occurred to the brain, their value as a person was assumed to diminish. People with dementia were sometimes not treated as individuals in their own right.

When dementia care takes into consideration your personal history, individual traits and characteristics, it has been shown there is a positive impact on slowing the progress of disease. 

An approach to dementia care which recognises and respects the personal history, character and individuality of the person living with dementia has been shown to have a positive impact on the progress of the disease. ADI has produced a charter of principles for the care of people with dementia and their carers.

The World Alzheimer Report 2022, which will be released on 21 September 2022, will focus on post-diagnosis support and care for people living with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers.

Read more about the World Alzheimer Report 2022

Treatments

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or for most other causes of dementia at present, the problems associated with dementia such as restlessness and depression can be treated. It may also be possible, especially in the early stages of dementia, to improve someone’s memory with medication.

It is also possible to help people with dementia and their carers in a variety of practical ways. These include ways of caring for people with dementia which build on the strengths and abilities of those affected. This ensures that people with dementia maintain a sense of well-being and individuality throughout their illness.