Organisational Culture and Person-Centred Dementia Care; Why the care home industry does not need more models of care.
Parallel 5
18 November, 2026 2:10 – 3:20 pmMini Presentations: Group 2
Mary-Joy qualified as a general nurse (RGN) and mental health nurse (RMN) in 1989. Her extensive career has included roles in neurosurgery, head injury, complex behaviour, acute mental health, HIV and HIV-related dementia, teaching, public health and care of the elderly. Since 2014 she has specialised in dementia care and is a PhD student at University of Worcester Association of Dementia Studies, exploring how trauma-and-violence-informed care can be introduced into dementia care in care homes in England.
Summary
For three decades, person-centred care has been viewed globally as the gold standard of dementia care and yet achieving truly person-centred dementia care remains elusive. This has led to emerging models aspiring to supersede person-centred care, grounded on criticism and perceived failings of Kitwood’s original work.
By describing a detailed comparison of Kitwood’s seminal work with emerging models, this presentation will argue that there are more commonalities than differences, and they all require whole organisation culture change, not just training of frontline staff. Humanisation, emotional intelligence and respecting personhood must extend to everyone within the organisation, not just those receiving care. These ideas are fundamental to Kitwood’s original concept of dementia care. This presentation calls for the industry to stop overburdening care homes with more models of dementia care, but to join forces in challenging the political, organisational and financial structures that prevent person centred care becoming a reality.



