1.3 Explain how the best interests of an individual with dementia are met through care and support

This guide will help you answer 1.3 Explain how the best interests of an individual with dementia are met through care and support.

Caring for a person with dementia means always thinking about their best interests. The term “best interests” refers to actions and decisions that protect their wellbeing, rights, and dignity. It means putting the person at the centre of care, keeping their needs and wishes a priority.

People with dementia may have difficulties with memory, communication, and daily living skills. Over time, they may find it harder to make decisions about their own care. This is why carers, families, and professionals must work together to protect their rights and quality of life.

In the UK, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out clear guidance on acting in a person’s best interests when they cannot make decisions for themselves. This guidance is important in health and social care services, and it shapes how care workers meet individual needs.

Person-Centred Care

The best interests of someone with dementia are met when the care provided is person-centred.

Person-centred care means looking at the whole person, not just their medical condition. This includes their personality, likes and dislikes, cultural background, and life history. Carers use this information to adapt support so it feels personal and meaningful.

For example:

• Offering meals based on the person’s cultural preferences
• Playing music from their younger years to support memory and comfort
• Using communication styles that match their abilities

This approach helps the person feel valued and respected, even when they face difficulties in daily life.

Involving the Individual in Decision-Making

Where possible, the individual must be involved in decisions about their treatment and daily care. This is part of respecting their autonomy – the right to have a say in their own life. Even if the person struggles to make complex decisions, they may still be able to choose what to wear, what to eat, or how to spend their time.

Ways to support involvement include:

• Giving information in simple language
• Showing visual cues or pictures
• Allowing extra time for the person to respond
• Asking questions one at a time

Involving them in decisions helps them keep a sense of control, which has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Respecting Past and Present Wishes

A person’s best interests are linked to their history, beliefs, and past decisions. If they made advance statements or plans before their dementia progressed, these should be respected.

Examples of respecting past wishes:

• Following an advance care plan for medical treatment preferences
• Maintaining religious or cultural practices important to the person
• Continuing hobbies or routines that matter to them

Family and close friends are often a good source of insight into what the person valued before dementia affected their communication. Their input can guide care decisions.

Protecting Rights and Dignity

Dignity means treating people with respect and valuing them as human beings regardless of illness or disability. For someone with dementia, this includes:

• Speaking to them politely
• Explaining what is happening during personal care
• Respecting privacy by knocking before entering their room
• Using their preferred name or title

Protecting rights also includes making sure their human rights under UK law are not ignored, such as the right to liberty, safety, and family life.

Promoting Emotional Wellbeing

The best interests of an individual with dementia go beyond basic physical care. Emotional and psychological wellbeing are equally important.

Dementia can cause anxiety, loneliness, or frustration. Good care should focus on creating a comforting and reassuring environment.

Supports for emotional wellbeing can include:

• Maintaining close relationships with family and friends
• Engaging in meaningful activities such as gardening or arts
• Providing regular reassurance and validation
• Using reminiscence therapy to encourage memories

Reducing stress and creating positive moments can slow the impact of dementia symptoms and improve day-to-day experiences.

Balancing Safety and Independence

Safety must be supported without removing independence unnecessarily. Overprotective care can take away a person’s sense of control and damage self-esteem.

An example is allowing the person to make a cup of tea with carer supervision, rather than doing it for them completely. This supports skills, confidence, and dignity while still reducing risk.

Common safety measures include:

• Using non-slip mats and removing trip hazards
• Labelling cupboards or rooms for easier navigation
• Supporting outings so the person can stay connected to their community
• Installing safety devices such as kettle tippers or easy-grip utensils

Effective Communication

Meeting the best interests of a person with dementia requires good communication. Dementia can affect speech, memory, and understanding. Care staff need to use techniques that make communication easier.

These can include:

• Speaking slowly and clearly
• Avoiding long or complex instructions
• Using the person’s name
• Keeping eye contact and showing friendly facial expressions
• Using gestures or pictures

Listening is as important as speaking. Being patient and showing interest in what the person is trying to express helps them feel respected.

Involving Family and Advocates

Family and advocates play an important role in protecting best interests. They provide insights into the person’s preferences and help make decisions when the person cannot.

An advocate can be a formal appointment under the Mental Capacity Act. This role ensures that the individual’s voice is considered in care decisions.

Working closely with family and advocates means the care plan is more accurate and reflects true preferences.

Following the Mental Capacity Act 2005

This legislation sets out how decisions should be made for someone who lacks capacity. It says that:

• You must assume a person has capacity unless proven otherwise.
• You must give all possible support before deciding they cannot make a decision.
• Any decision made must be in the person’s best interests.
• The least restrictive option should be chosen to achieve the outcome.

Following this law is part of professional duty. It ensures respect for rights and prevents unnecessary restrictions.

Providing Consistency and Stability

Change can be unsettling for individuals with dementia. Routine and familiar faces help them feel secure. Consistency in carers, environment, and daily schedule reduces anxiety.

Practical methods for consistency:

• Using the same care staff for regular visits
• Keeping daily routines predictable
• Minimising changes to furniture or room layout
• Using memory aids like photo boards for familiar faces

Supporting Physical Health

Best interests include keeping the person physically well. This covers nutrition, hydration, exercise, and access to healthcare.

Practical steps for physical health:

• Providing balanced meals and enough fluids
• Encouraging light exercise such as walking or chair-based activities
• Organising regular health checks with doctors and dentists
• Monitoring for signs of pain, infection, or illness that the person may not communicate clearly

Physical and mental health are linked. Good physical care supports better mood and cognitive function.

Cultural and Spiritual Needs

Cultural and spiritual needs are important to a person’s identity. Meeting these needs supports dignity and wellbeing.

This could involve:

• Arranging visits from religious leaders
• Providing food that meets cultural dietary rules
• Celebrating cultural festivals
• Using the person’s first language in communication when possible

Ignoring these needs can make a person feel isolated or undervalued.

Adapting the Environment

The environment should suit the needs of the person with dementia. A safe and supportive setting can make daily life easier and reduce stress.

Environmental adaptations include:

• Good lighting to help with visibility
• Clear signs with words and pictures
• Simple room layouts to avoid confusion
• Calming colours and familiar objects

A well-adapted environment supports independence and reduces the risk of harm.

Record Keeping and Care Planning

Accurate record keeping means everyone involved in care knows what supports the individual’s best interests. Care plans should be reviewed often and updated as needs change.

Good records:

• Outline personal preferences and medical needs
• Track changes in behaviour or health
• Record input from family, advocates, and other professionals
• Show how decisions have been made in line with best interests

Advocating for the Individual

Sometimes, health or social care systems may overlook a person’s specific needs. A care worker may need to speak on their behalf to get them the right support.

Examples of advocating include:

• Requesting a review of medication if side effects are affecting wellbeing
• Arranging specialist support such as speech therapy
• Challenging inappropriate decisions that ignore past wishes

Advocacy keeps the person at the centre of all decision-making processes.

Final Thoughts

Meeting the best interests of an individual with dementia relies on respect, empathy, and attention to both physical and emotional needs. It is about valuing the person as a unique individual, not just seeing the illness. This involves listening, adapting, and working with others to make choices that are right for them.

Dementia affects many abilities, but not a person’s humanity. The role of care and support is to protect that humanity at every stage of the condition. By combining legal guidance, personal knowledge, and compassionate practice, health and social care workers can make sure that the person’s life continues to have meaning, purpose, and dignity.