b'DEMENTIA CAREDementia beyond segregationA perspective on inclusive livingBy Matthew BradfordE ffective dementia care is rootedHomogeneitythat is, the idea thatweve decided that one diagnosis is in new perspectives and themodern care is based on a uniformenough to define where someone willingness to engage in difficultunderstanding of what is, in actuality, lives for the rest of their life.conversations, says Dr. Allen Power.a group of people with diverse abilities, strengths, coping skills,Dr. Power provided several other As the Schlegel Chair in Aging andpersonal histories, culturalarguments against segregation Dementia Innovation, Dr. Powerbackgrounds, and stages of dementia. practices in dementia care. For one, has spent much of his time in thehe argued, there is no conclusive sector working with some of theThe question, Dr. Power posed,evidence that placing long-term care most amazing people on Earthwas whether todays one-size-fits- residents with dementia in locked, to explore the pillars of dementiaall housing model is the best waysegregated units has resulted in care. During a recent presentationforward given the vastly differentnet-positive outcomes. Rather, he at OLTCAs This is Long Term Carepeople within it. For example, heargued, studies like Namazi and conference, he offered his perspectiveasked, If you were diagnosed withJohnson suggest the opposite: With on current practices and how theydementia, would you want to live thethe doors locked, there were 1,534 can be improved. Dr. Powers talkrest of your life in a place that onlydistressed expressions. When the encompassed collaborative work withhas other people with dementia livingdoors were unlocked, that dropped Jennifer Carson, PhD, and Pat Sprigg,with you? What about a home just forto 419.including material from a book theypeople with high blood pressure? One are co-authoring on the topic. for people with the same grade There is also Demographic Reality point average? to consider when discussing the Addressing segregationsegregation of residents with Dr. Power began his presentationThe point, Dr. Power added, is this:dementia. The number of people with an overview of several barriersWe dont sort people into livingliving with dementia is rising rapidly to more empowering care forplaces based on one characteristicwhile the pool of available caregivers people with dementia. The first isor past role, because thats not howis shrinking, making segregated care what he coined as the Fallacy ofidentity works. Yet, with dementia,an increasingly difficult model to 40 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2026'