The applicability of a recovery approach to nursing people with dementia
Received 6 July 2009; received in revised form 30 September 2009; accepted 6 October 2009.
Abstract
Objectives
Recent developments in nursing to people with mental health conditions of working age have been underpinned by the recovery approach. This paper critically reviews the idea of recovery in relationship to people with dementia and examines its applicability to dementia care nursing.
Design
The paper critically reviews literature relating to the use recovery approach and the people with dementia, particularly their nursing care. The paper identifies common ideas within two approaches and suggests how the recovery approach may underpin nursing care to people with dementia.
Data sources
A search of CINAHL, Medline and PsycINFO was undertaken from 1987 onwards using keywords ‘recovery’, ‘nursing’ and ‘dementia’.
Results
The paper found that the recovery approach shares many ideas with person-centred approaches to dementia care and illustrates this in relationship to well-being, social inclusion, self-management, and hope.
Conclusion
The paper concludes by suggesting that dementia care nursing should draw on ideas taken from the recovery approach and identifies each approach drawing on ideas that have come together in postpsychiatry.
University of Surrey, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Division of Health and Social Care, Stag Hill Campus, Duke of Kent Building, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7TE, United Kingdom
ABSTRACT