Professional Practice
What should good person-centred dementia care documentation include, and how can I make it useful in daily practice?
Good care records help the next supporter understand the person and any change in their needs. Write what you observed, when it happened, what the person said or communicated and what you did in response. Separate facts from interpretations rather than describing someone as difficult or uncooperative. Include preferences, choices and what helped, not only problems. Record significant changes and the advice or escalation sought through the appropriate service. Follow your organisation’s privacy, consent and record-keeping rules. Documentation should support timely care; writing an entry must never delay urgent medical assessment or emergency help.
Example wording: “She said the water felt cold; we paused, offered a warmer flannel and asked again.”
Hugo, inside The Dementia Assistant, is who you talk to.
Educational guidance, not a diagnosis, not an emergency service.
