The importance of person-centered dementia care has been brought into even sharper focus by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the issue, Prof Dawn Brooker, Director of the University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies UK, will present on the topic, at Dementia Australia’s National Symposium Series next week.
“Providing excellent dementia care is a challenge around the world,” Prof Brooker said.
“By taking a systematic approach and using evidence about what works, we can transform people’s lives.”
Person-centred care promotes the rights and perspectives of the individual living with dementia.
It is an approach to service development and service delivery that sees services provided in a way that is respectful of, and responsive to, the preferences, needs, values and life experience of people living with dementia and those who care for them.
Prof Brooker, recipient of the UK’s National Dementia Care Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, is regarded as a global expert on the effective implementation of person-centred dementia care.
“Relating to people not as patients, but as fellow citizens, means that I don’t fear getting dementia as much as I did,” Prof Brooker said.
“If I get dementia, I want to feel confident that staff who will support me will be skilled and compassionate and that care organisations will be truly person-centred – that is my hope for the future.”
Still to come in the Symposium Series are presentations from Dementia Advocates as well as James Adonis, author and leadership educator and Ita Buttrose AC OBE, Dementia Australia Ambassador and Chair ABC.
The free online series is being presented weekly for six consecutive weeks and began on Tuesday 4 August. To learn more about the speakers and to register visit the Dementia Australia website here.
