Person-Centered Care Advocates Form Dementia-Care Alliance

Representatives from three prominent long-term-care advocacy organizations have formed a leadership group dedicated to introducing person-centered ideals to dementia care.

The new alliance, known as the Dementia Action Alliance, will comprise members of the Eden Alternative, Planetree, and CCAL — Advancing Person-Centered Living, all of which have been staunch advocates for patient- and person-centered care over the years.

The founders of the alliance note that an estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with dementia, and could greatly benefit from a more person-centered approach to care.

To that end, the alliance will work to “inform key policy, research, and service provider stakeholders about the importance and benefits of making person-centered care the standard for dementia care in our country,” the alliance stated in a press release (pdf).

The alliance argues that person-centered care will not only improve the quality of dementia care, it will also reduce costs.

“By gaining the support and involvement of national, state, regional, and local entities in this alliance, we can reach the ‘tipping point’ that makes person-centered care the only acceptable norm for our country,” said Eden Alternative CEO Chris Perna.

— by Matthew Ozga