Table 1 Dementia friendly health-care environments: anticipated outcomes and ways they might be achieved

Skilled staff with time to care

• Staff training focused on dementia awareness

• Support and reinforcement of skills in dementia care from clinical dementia leads

• Identifying dementia champions as a resource for staff

• Attention to staffing levels and staff mix

Partnership working with carers

• Assessment and communication tools that include carer knowledge and opinion

• Flexible visiting hours for carers

• Assessment of carers’ needs

Assessment and early identification

• Use of incentives for staff to complete training identify people in need of assessment

• Screening and assessment tools

• Protocols and pathways

• Clinical reviews of medication

Individualised care (person-centred care)

• Assessment and documentation that focuses on the person’s biography, preferences and priorities and retained abilities

• Activities to support social engagement and inclusion in everyday activities

• Access to dementia and palliative care specialists who can guide staff in the provision of good quality care

Environments that are dementia friendly

• Environments that promote independence by being safe to walk around and navigate

• Environments that are not confusing to a person living with dementia (e.g. shiny floors can be perceived as water, use of patterns and colour contrast)

• Limiting ward moves during admission to minimise distress