Abstract
‘Person-centred care’ is a term frequently used by organizations to describe the aims and objectives of dementia care but, in reality, the term is often misused and ill-defined because the care for people with dementia, especially long-term care, is anything but person-centred. The traditional overemphasis on pathologizing dementia, based on physical brain changes and hitherto task oriented approaches, often overlooks the unique and personal human experiences and ignores the important infl uence of social and physical environments in the care and management of patients. The development of patient-centred care, in its true sense, has therefore led to a new culture in the way we look at the needs of people with dementia.