Global Perspectives on Person-Centered Dementia Care: Results of an International Survey

Person-centeredness is instrumental to quality dementia care but is inconsistently defined and descriptions often reflect higher-income and Eurocentric perspectives. This paper addressed these limitations by surveying 39 member associations of Alzheimer’s Disease International regarding the global quality of dementia care, challenges and successes in providing person-centered dementia care, and definitions of person-centered dementia care in their countries. The economically and geographically diverse respondents described a common lack of both quality and person-centered dementia care and identified associated barriers. Results suggest that identifying shared perspectives is necessary to further the person-centeredness of dementia care, and should reflect five core tenets: individualize care, support and acknowledge caregivers, empower the individual, cultivate respectful relationships, and address dimensions of wellness.