Person-Centered Care in Memory Care: A Guide for Life Enrichment Professionals

Person-centered care (PCC) is a transformative approach that prioritizes the individual's identity, preferences, and life experiences. It's more than just providing care; it's about fostering a sense of self-worth, belonging, and purpose. In memory care, PCC is especially crucial, as it recognizes that dementia doesn't erase a person's individuality.

Key Strategies for Life Enrichment Professionals

• Get to know your residents: Go beyond medical records and diagnoses. Take time to interview residents and their families, learning about their hobbies, careers, relationships, and cultural backgrounds. Use this information to create personalized profiles and care plans.
• Develop personalized care plans: These plans should reflect the individual's preferences in activities, routines, and social interactions. For example, if a resident loves gardening, incorporate nature-themed activities or create a sensory garden they can explore.
• Foster a supportive environment: Create a welcoming and inclusive community where residents feel safe, respected, and valued. Encourage open communication and celebrate each person's unique strengths and abilities.
• Empower staff: Train all staff members in PCC principles, including caregivers, nurses, and housekeeping staff. Provide ongoing education and support to ensure consistent implementation of person-centered practices.
• Regularly evaluate and adjust care plans: Dementia is a progressive disease, so it's important to continually assess and adapt care plans to meet changing needs. Monitor residents' responses to activities and interactions, and adjust plans accordingly.
• Create opportunities for meaningful engagement: Design activities that resonate with individual interests and abilities. Offer a variety of options, from music therapy and reminiscence groups to art classes and exercise programs.
• Communicate effectively: Use clear, concise language, and be mindful of nonverbal cues. Approach residents with patience and empathy, and validate their emotions.

You likely are already familiar with these approaches and doing them to the best of your ability. But we all know how important your knowledge of a resident’s likes and dislikes is and how it leaves the community when your shift ends for the day. 

This is why recreation management platforms are transforming the model of person-centered care. By digitizing data and preferences, anyone in the community can become a pro at managing Alice after she has a bit too much schnapps after dinner. Aside from scaling knowledge, a recreation management platform like Welbi can help you build calendars based on resident preferences, measure success, and sync information to the EHR (saving you from double documentation!)

By embracing person-centered care, life enrichment professionals can truly make a difference in the lives of residents with dementia, fostering a sense of well-being, purpose, and joy.