Embracing person centred care

What if your loved one's care was truly anchored in their unique needs, preferences, and personality? Imagine a world where every person living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease receives the time, attention, and compassion they deserve.

Person-centred care is a healthcare model that prioritizes each individual’s specific needs and actively involves them in decisions about their care. This approach sees each person as a whole, rather than defining them by their diagnosis.

Unfortunately, in many Western countries, dementia and Alzheimer's care has struggled to meet this standard, often compromising both the quality of care and the overall experience of the individual. High nurse-to-resident ratios—sometimes as high as 1:10.5—leave many feeling neglected and families overwhelmed with concern.

According to the World Health Organization (2020), more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a number expected to double in the next 20 years.

With the growing number of individuals affected, it’s time to rethink how we provide care for one of the most vulnerable populations. At our facility, we believe there’s a better way—a way that restores dignity, connection, and joy to the lives of those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Through person-centred care and exceptionally low nurse-to-resident ratios, we're setting a new standard for compassionate, individualized support.

What is Person-centred care?

Person-centred care is not just a model of care but a philosophy. It understands that each person living with dementia or Alzheimer's has their own story, beliefs, and desires. Rather than adopting a universal approach, the individual's needs should be acknowledged and considered in every decision, task, and communication.

This approach can be transformative for individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. By focusing on elements that promote comfort and familiarity—such as listening to favorite music, creating a calm environment, and maintaining familiar routines—we can help reduce anxiety, agitation, and confusion, ultimately improving overall well-being and outcomes.

However, realising and actualising person-centred care requires time, commitment, and other necessities. That is why it is important to have as few residents per nurse as possible. This can only be possible if the caregivers spend quality time with each resident to ensure that they can recognize and understand their unique needs adequately.

Challenges with current care provision in Western countries

Residents with dementia and Alzheimer's disease require more than just their basic needs met; they need companionship, mental engagement and care tailored to their needs. However, in most Western countries, care facilities are overburdened with the high number of residents per nurse and mechanical schedules that leave no room for individual touch.

Therefore, residents are subjected to higher levels of anxiety, loneliness, and quicker deterioration of cognitive abilities. It also affects the families because they know their relatives or friends are not well cared for. This is not because of the lack of empathy but the scarcity of resources, which calls for improved and more efficient approaches to meeting such needs in ways that respect the residents' dignity and establish personal relationships with them.

Our Commitment to Better Care

At BetterCare.Today, we've reimagined what dementia and Alzheimer's care can look like. Person-centred care is not just a goal but a daily reality that our clients experience—a reality we achieve through low nurse-to-resident ratios and a deep commitment to individualized attention. With nurse-to-resident ratios of 1:1:3, 1:2, and even 1:1, our caregivers have the time to get to know each of our residents personally. Thus, they know their biography, tastes, and what makes them happy. It enables us to provide a space where residents can share their stories without fearing judgment or disrespect.

Therefore, the approach chosen is broader than meeting the fundamental needs. It is about giving people things to do and think about, recalling the good old days, doing things that are calming, and just being there with a resident during their time of need. Such gestures go a long way in helping people feel more relaxed and confident that they are in safe hands.

References

• World Health Organization. (2023, March 15). Dementia. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia