Why Is a Personalised Care Plan Important for Those Living With Dementia?
When it comes to supporting individuals living with dementia, providing person-centred care is crucial. Dementia is a progressive condition that affects memory, cognitive abilities, and overall mental health. This blog explores why a personalised care plan is important for those living with dementia and how it improves their well-being, care outcomes, and quality of life.
Understanding Dementia and Its Impact on Lifestyle
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of cognitive impairments that impact memory, problem-solving, communication skills, and the ability to carry out daily tasks. As the condition progresses, individuals often require support from family members, primary care professionals, and nursing home staff to manage their symptoms and maintain their quality of life.
A diagnosis of dementia and considering making the move into a care home can be overwhelming for both the person with dementia and their family. However, a personalised dementia care plan can help address their specific needs, ensuring that care is tailored to the individual, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Personalised care plans take into account the person’s medical treatment, life stories, and psychological symptoms, creating a holistic approach to care.
The Importance of a Personalised Care Plan
Individualised Care
A personalised care plan focuses on the person’s life, values, preferences, and health conditions. It acknowledges that each person with dementia is unique, and their care should reflect this. This individualised approach is at the heart of person-centred care, which contrasts with the traditional medical model that often focuses on treating symptoms rather than the whole person.
For example, a personalised dementia care plan might include specific activities that residents enjoy and have the biggest positive impact on their cognitive abilities and emotional needs. This approach helps to create opportunities for social interaction, cognitive stimulation, and reminiscence therapy, which are key elements in dementia care.
Enhancing Communication and Building Relationships
Good communication is a key component of any care plan, but it is especially important in dementia care. As dementia progresses, people can often experience difficulties in expressing themselves. A personalised care plan can incorporate the ways the resident best communicates with others to ensure any caregiver can provide dementia care in the best possible way. By focusing on the person’s experience and communication skills, care professionals can build relationships based on trust, empathy, and understanding.
Person-centred care planning encourages active involvement from the individual and their family, ensuring that their preferences and best interests are at the forefront of decision-making. This approach fosters positive emotions and creates a sense of empowerment for the person with dementia, as they feel involved in their health and well-being.
Supporting Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
Mental health is a critical aspect of care planning for people with dementia. A personalised care plan helps to address not only the person’s cognitive and physical health but also their psychological symptoms. This holistic approach is essential for improving well-being, as it acknowledges the emotional needs of the person with dementia which in hand can help to improve communication between residents and care professionals.
Adaptability of Care Provided
A personalised care plan is not a static document; it is an ongoing process that requires regular review and updates as the person’s condition or needs progress. Dementia is a dynamic condition, and a care plan must evolve to accommodate changes in the person’s cognitive abilities, medical treatment, and emotional needs. A person-centred care plan ensures that the residents' experience of care remains positive and that they receive the right support at the right time.
Collaboration Between Care Professionals and Family Members
Creating a personalised care plan for people with dementia requires a collaborative effort between care professionals and family members to create a detailed description of the person’s needs, preferences, and best interests.
Primary care professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers also play a key role in developing and implementing the care plan. They will conduct needs assessments, monitor the person’s health, and provide guidance on medical treatment and care practices. Family members, on the other hand, offer valuable insights into the person’s life, history, and preferences, which are essential for creating a person-centred approach to care.
Key Components of a Personalised Dementia Care Plan
Detailed Information on Health Conditions
A thorough understanding of the person’s health conditions, including their dementia diagnosis and any other previous or ongoing medical issues, is essential for developing an effective care plan. This ensures that all aspects of the person’s health are addressed, including their physical, emotional, and psychological needs.
Cognitive Stimulation and Meaningful Activities
Activities tailored to the person’s cognitive abilities and interests are key to promoting engagement and maintaining their quality of life. Cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, and social interaction are all important aspects of dementia care that help to improve mental health and reduce psychological symptoms.
Personal Goals
It is important for residents to have something to work towards whilst receiving dementia care. Developing personal goals makes a good baseline to refer back to regularly and makes it easy to see the progress a resident has made during their care journey and alter if their needs or preferences change. It can also be used for planning activities as incorporating goals into their daily life can provide residents with a sense of achievement.
Intervention Points
Sometimes, medical intervention is needed from a care professional. Identifying this in the care plan ensures the right person gets involved at the most appropriate time. Having the process set out as a precaution can also create the perfect environment for residents to easily recover.
Dementia Care at White House Care Home
At White House Care Home, our personalised care plans play a critical role in supporting people living with dementia. Creating these for each of our residents provides the foundation for our team to provide the highest levels of dementia care in an environment where our residents can thrive.
Our staff members are trained in person-centred care practices and they work closely with their key residents, their family members, and primary care professionals to ensure that care plans are built and adapted to the individual’s needs. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of community at our care home in Letchworth and helps to create a supportive environment for our residents.
To further support our residents, we offer a variety of in-house facilities and amenities including courtyard gardens, a hair salon & nail bar, and a cafe. No matter what care they receive, residents can use our facilities at any time of the day.
If you have any further questions about our care types, personalised care plans or anything else at White House Care Home, please get in touch with a member of our friendly team or book a tour. We look forward to hearing from you!
