dementia care

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the specialised domain of healthcare and social support addressing the needs of people living with dementia — the group of progressive neurological conditions including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday activities; dementia care encompasses medical management, nursing care, personalised support at home and in residential facilities, family caregiver support, and environmental design; person-centred care — an approach developed by Tom Kitwood emphasising the maintenance of personhood and dignity rather than focusing solely on cognitive deficits — has transformed dementia care practice, and complementary approaches including life story work, music therapy, and reminiscence therapy are widely used; global dementia care is under severe pressure as the number of people living with dementia is projected to reach 139 million by 2050 due to population aging, while formal care workforces remain inadequately trained and compensated and family caregivers bear enormous and often unrecognised burdens