What is the Gentle Persuasive Approach?
Often shortened to GPA, the Gentle Persuasive Approach is a method used by care providers to deliver person-centred, compassionate care to individuals who have dementia. It’s a form of care that goes far beyond providing assistance with physical requirements. GPA places the emotional needs of the care recipient as a top priority.
There are four key focuses to this method: personhood, brain and behaviour, the interpersonal environment and gentle persuasive techniques. This approach to care giving can make use of a number of different educational tools including interactive exercise, white board animations, videos and even sharing personal experiences in working with individuals with dementia.
A caregiver with GPA training is capable of spotting potential signs of agitation in his/her care recipient. Restless movements, wishes to exit a facility or outright refusing care are all immediately noticeable and addressed with compassion. Caregivers using this approach consider the potential causes of these behaviours and provide solutions that show understandings of their care recipients’ personal preferences.
Individuals with dementia are people. They have unique histories and capacities to develop interpersonal relationships. They deserve to be involved in activities that are both planned and spontaneous. This respect and inclusion works wonders in bringing about feelings of joy which, in turn, helps to lower blood pressure and overall stress levels. A care recipient’s quality of life is vastly improved when the GPA approach to care giving is used.
What is Dementia Friendly Approach?
The Dementia Friendly Approach to care giving places a focus on reducing the stigma generally associated with people who have dementia. It involves integrating people living with dementia in the places they work, live and play. This approach deems it vital to offer those who live with dementia senses of compassion and acknowledgement that, just like everyone else, they are rightful members of our society.
Ideally, a Dementia Friendly Approach would incorporate the efforts of everyone involved in the life of the person with dementia. Community groups, local government leaders, the professional sector and members of the general public are all called to work together in becoming more dementia friendly.
In a health care setting, an example of the Dementia Friendly Approach would be the inclusion of people with dementia in discussions about their treatment. Getting the care recipient to be involved in the decision-making about his/her own care showcases a respect for his/her individual needs and wants. In addition, this approach to care giving involves providing appropriate services to people with dementia at an equivalent standard of any other patient.
A care giver using this approach defuses challenging behaviour with compassion and understanding. It’s a person-centred approach that seeks to enhance the lives of people with dementia.
How can Senior Homecare by Angels help the person with dementia in your family?
Our team is well-versed in utilizing both the Gentle Persuasive Approach and the Dementia Friendly Approach to care giving. Caregivers are trained on these methodologies and techniques to ensure the best possible care is delivered in a person-centered approach. Both approaches are known as “best friends” or “person-centred” approaches. And they work wonders for your family and the people with dementia who are a part of them.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 403-862-0129 Or Toll Free if calling outside Calgary 1-877-209-6142 or visit our Contact Us page to complete and submit a simple contact form. Be sure to ask us about our Dementia Care service. We are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Gerry Gatto is a trained health care administrator and the owner of Senior Homecare® By Angels a Calgary – based company. Helping Calgary seniors remain in their home and maintain their independence with the assistance of dedicated caregiver.