Using risk management to promote person-centred dementia care

Risk management for people with dementia has traditionally focussed on preventing physical harm. However, recent research has demonstrated that a focus on physical safety only can result in the social and psychological wellbeing of people being overlooked – the very things that person-centred care require us to attend to. This paper discusses some of the challenges for practitioners working with people with dementia in all care settings and encourages an approach which enables risk taking as a way of promoting person centred care.