Dementia. Part 1: Person-centred care

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Philosophy of Care
• Gerontology

Background:

• Dementia care often overlooks the individual's identity and experiences.
• Humanistic philosophy offers a framework for understanding and valuing the person beyond their diagnosis.
• Person-centered care is increasingly recognized as essential in dementia care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of humanistic philosophical theories to promote 'personhood' in dementia care.
• To advocate for the integration of humanistic values into nursing practice for individuals with dementia.
• To provide a theoretical basis for person-centered care in various healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of humanistic theories relevant to personhood.
• Literature review on person-centered care in dementia and nursing.
• Conceptual exploration of humanistic values in clinical practice.

Main Results:

• Humanistic theories emphasize inherent worth, autonomy, and subjective experience, aligning with personhood.
• Personhood in dementia care requires recognizing the individual's unique history, values, and relationships.
• Humanistic values provide a robust ethical and practical foundation for person-centered dementia care.

Conclusions:

• Nurses should actively promote personhood by embracing humanistic values in dementia care.
• Integrating humanistic philosophy strengthens the foundation for truly person-centered nursing practice.
• The principles of personhood and humanistic care are universally applicable across all dementia care environments.