Abstract

The way in which dementia is understood and treated is changing, with a growing focus on the individual's experience and person-centred approaches to care. Introducing a new model of dementia care that reflects on the role of a person with dementia within a community and their relationships, this guide for professional and family caregivers demonstrates how to facilitate positive relationships for peaceful living.

By understanding the cognitive and physical challenges that older adults with dementia face, caregivers can practice empathic care that affords people with dementia increased freedom of expression and independence. Included here are techniques for conflict resolution that enable people with dementia to be active and self-initiating in times of distress and disruption. Looking at the basics of respect, empathy, and mindfulness, this book also provides hands-on training for employing these virtues in practice with a number of exercises to help achieve the goal of peaceful independent living.

A short, insightful book that reminds us to see people living with dementia first and foremost as people, whose human rights need to be recognised and respected. It is clear the authors have a great deal of experience working in care settings.
Ian Andrew James, Challenging Behaviour Trust Lead for Older People and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
With the three key values of respect, dignity and equality woven through the book, every reader will find fresh ideas to ... raise their game in dementia care.
Michal Herz, Senior Lecturer and Head of education, Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester, UK

Cameron Camp, Ph.D., is an experimental psychologist with over 30 years of experience working in the field of dementia care.

Linda Camp has been a Montessori teacher for over 25 years and has experience teaching conflict resolution in the classroom.