The Life Story Approach in Dementia Care: Paths and Challenges

Czech version

Authors: Lenka Horáková; Rastislav Ostříž; Iva Holmerová
Authors‘ workplace: Centrum pro studium dlouhověkosti a dlouhodobé péče, Fakulta humanitních studií, Univerzita Karlova, Praha
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2025, 14, č. 2: 60-64
Category: Review Article
doi: https://doi.org/10.61568/geri/50-6499/20250512/140516

Overview

The use of biographical information in healthcare represents a shift towards personalized care. This approach is based on understanding individuals’ life stories, values, habits, and interests, allowing healthcare professionals to comprehend their needs and preferences better. During hospitalization, when a person with dementia is placed in an unfamiliar environment, the loss of autonomy often becomes one of the most significant stressors. Working with biographical information can help alleviate stress, support communication, and build trust between the person with dementia and the staff. A relationship founded on respect and dignity is essential for providing care tailored to the specific needs of a person with dementia.⁽¹⁾ Personalization brings quality and depth to care, although it can be time-consuming. In contrast, standardized approaches may simplify processes but often lack the individuality and creativity necessary for a personalized approach.⁽²⁾ Every person with dementia has the right to the same quality of care as a person without this syndrome.⁽³⁾ Professional knowledge alone is not always sufficient to provide optimal care. We often believe that only the present matters and that the past no longer concerns us. However, when we reflect on it, we must acknowledge that the past never entirely leaves us—whether we realize it or not. It remains present in our „here and now“ and often manifests in the behaviors, routines, and daily habits of individuals with dementia. This raises important questions: Is it still the past? How can we work with the past to make it beneficial in the care of individuals with dementia?

Keywords:

communication – dementia – biography – personalized care – life story

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