It may sound obvious, but we should adapt how we approach patients and what we suggest for them, according to their individual problems, values, preferences and circumstances.

However, it is all too easy to presume that all people with dementia are the same, to stigmatise their condition and disregard or overlook their retained abilities. Care planning needs to reflect patients' strengths and needs and be reviewed regularly.

Details of the patient’s life history and preferences will need to be sought from family carers. Personal profile documents such as the ‘This is Me’ document are useful to capture this information.

Click on each of these pictures to learn more about individualised care.

It is important to respect routines and food preferences, even where they are not standard in hospital.

Encouraging patients to be dressed in their own clothes (and encouraging family to bring in clothes for patients) reinforces their individuality.

Encourage family to bring in personal possessions (though let the family know that possessions can be lost in hospital).

Remember that everyone with dementia can do something. Assess and use retained abilities and consider the differing degrees of help that will be required in personal care, customary occupation or in decision making.