Person-Centred Rehabilitation Approaches for Dementia Care
Summary
Person-centred rehabilitation for individuals with dementia emphasises tailoring assessment and intervention to the person’s life history, preferences and cognitive capacities. Rather than applying standard biomedical protocols, this approach recognises the interplay of memory, perception and motivation in shaping engagement and learning. Key elements include establishing a therapeutic relationship built on respect and trust; adapting communication to support comprehension and choice; designing meaningful, goal-directed activities that connect with the person’s routine; and modifying the physical and social environment to reduce confusion and promote safety. By focusing on preserved abilities and strengths, person-centred rehabilitation aims to enhance mobility, independence in activities of daily living and quality of life, while alleviating carer burden. Global research highlights the importance of interdisciplinary teams, education of non-specialist staff and the use of flexible, evidence-based frameworks that respond to the progressive nature of cognitive impairment.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Person-Centred Rehabilitation Approaches for Dementia Care publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in person-centred rehabilitation approaches for dementia care across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Person-centred care: Collaborative approach that respects and responds to the individual’s preferences, needs and values in rehabilitation.
Motor learning: Process of acquiring or refining movement skills through practice, feedback and adaptation.
Rehabilitation potential: Clinician’s appraisal of an individual’s capacity to benefit from rehabilitation interventions based on cognitive, physical and social factors.
Cognitive impairment: Deficits in mental processes such as memory, attention and problem-solving that affect engagement and function in daily activities.
References
- Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Student Knowledge, Confidence, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Providing Care for People With Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. Physical Therapy (2022).
- A framework for rehabilitation for older adults living with dementia. Archives of Physiotherapy (2022).
- Qualitative research concerning physiotherapy approaches to encourage physical activity in older adults with dementia. PLOS ONE (2023).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.