Beneficial care approaches in specialized daycare units for persons with dementia

Abstract

Background: Daycare services are seen as a valuable means of helping old people to continue living in their own homes. Relatively little is known about care approaches in daycare units and how they benefit the clients themselves. This work attempts to show the way in which the care approaches in daycare units are constituted. Methods: Participant observation that was concluded with individual interviews with the directors of the units. Results: The findings show that beneficial care approaches in these daycare units establish practices and habits that give a particular structure to the course of everyday life of the patient with dementia, enhance the person's sense of normality, and allow him/her to enjoy being among others, while being appreciated as the person he or she is. Conclusion: Well-organized and knowledgeable daycare service not only provides relief from care for the relatives, but also supports and enriches the lives of the individuals with dementia. © 2011 The Author(s).