Person- and relationship-centred dementia care: past, present, and future
Dementia is a global issue but is experienced at an individual and relational level. This chapter traces the emergence of both person centred care and relationship centred care with the latter approach expressed through the Senses Framework. The theoretical development and practical application of the Senses [security, belonging, continuity, purpose, achievement, significance] are outlined highlighting the importance of staff, carer and person [with dementia in this chapter] all working together. The application of the Senses Framework to a recent practice development study set in a care home for people with dementia that used a combination of the Senses and life story work to create an 'enriched environment is then described. The chapter concludes with a discussion about how the Senses can be used to facilitate an early diagnosis of dementia and to help people with dementia and their families to engage with a life ‘outside the front door’, what we term ‘The Neighbourhood Space’.