[Pre-Therapy in nursing home care: new approaches to persons with severe dementia]

In this contribution the results of a descriptive explorative study are presented, in which the significance of Pre-Therapy techniques for dementia care is examined. The approach was developed by Garry Prouty. In the project the approach was taught by the author to 111 geriatric care staff members and subsequently tried in geriatric care everyday life. The article first presents the theoretical concept of Pre-Therapy as developed from the person-centred approach (Rogers). The experience of the geriatric care staff and the results of transfer to practice are systematically described. Ten everyday examples of dementia care show the practical procedure with this method and demonstrate the possible applications. The result of the project is that Pre-Therapy techniques can be useful for the improvement of care for severely demented patients.