Our Person First approach to dementia care
Person-centred care is a phrase used in the field of dementia care. Person-centred care is a model of care that is evidence based to inform best practice care of people living with dementia, particularly in residential or care home settings.
Person First is Bupa’s approach developed from the concepts and principles of person-centred care. Person First puts you, your experiences, wellbeing, needs and feelings at the centre of the caring and support process, and means we seek to understand and have empathy for your daily experience.
Watch our video to see how we care for every resident in a Person First way.
At Bupa Aged Care being cared for in a Person First way means we will seek to get to know you. Using tools like “map of life” we will ask about your life, your values and history, family and how you like things to be done. If you can’t share this because you have difficulties with communication and memory, then we will try and get to know you through your family’s eyes. We also do this through observing your actions and reactions, what you enjoy, when you enjoy it – even if you can’t tell us directly.
Finding out about you helps us to communicate and try to understand your experience of living with dementia. Valuing you as a unique individual and seeking to understand your perspective and experience of life now, is a Person First approach to dementia care and support.
Person First uses the knowledge of you to inform “how” we care for you. The “how” means listening to and thinking about you and who you are first, to ensure we meet your needs in keeping with the way you like things done and how you want things to be.
Bringing Person First to life in our care homes
Activities
Around the care home you might find activities happening in a nostalgia room designed as a cinema, a pub or cafe, or there could be gatherings at destination points in a hallway, for example outside a ‘shop’. Whilst outside there may be an old car in the garden, an ‘allotment’ or a men’s shed. Meaningful activity means involving you as fully as possible in all aspects of daily living. For example, tasks that have to be done around the care home such as putting laundry away, setting tables or rearranging cushions is considered in a way that is appropriate to you and your abilities. Doing ordinary things means that watching television some of the time is okay if that’s what you enjoy doing. Listening to music and singing can also lift mood and help unlock memories. Playing music that feels familiar and is personal to you can be especially comforting. As a way of getting to know you, we will ask you what your favourite songs, singers and instruments are.
Dining experience
Food is an important part of people’s lives and meal times are often the highlights of the day and a chance for you to socialise with each other and have conversations with the team. Mealtimes are a time for a dining experience, so you will be asked about your own preferences such as whether you would like to sit at your own table, or enjoy sharing a table with others. We also ask you and consider what assistance you might need, what foods you like and dislike and if there is a meal that could be shared for a special occasion.
