Dementia Care Shifts: Focus on Abilities, Not Just Loss

Dementia care is evolving beyond the pursuit of a cure, with researchers advancing neurodegenerative therapies and health systems preparing for precision medicine. However, a significant opportunity lies in changing perceptions after diagnosis, focusing on retained abilities rather than solely on losses.

Matthew Call, CEO of The Preserved Abilities Method, observed that care plans often catalog deficits. He advocates for asking what a person can still do, similar to how Todd Graham, COO, experienced his father's diagnosis, where the focus was on loss, not on the individual's continued capabilities.

This perspective challenges conventional dementia care, which has often been overly focused on limitations. Call and Graham argue that while understanding deficits is crucial for support, they should not define a person entirely. Their method helps caregivers recognize that adjustments in communication or activity presentation can unlock retained strengths.

The Preserved Abilities Method utilizes scientific assessment and AI-assisted analysis to identify remaining strengths for communication and daily care. Tools like the M.I. Care Survey and Plan, along with the M.I. Care Hub, provide practical recommendations for communication, environmental adaptations, and meaningful activities, promoting continuity of care.

Call and Graham do not suggest that preserved abilities negate dementia's challenges or the need for clinical care. Instead, they champion a cultural shift, believing that a diagnosis should not erase individuality. Recognizing and valuing preserved abilities offers dignity and can fundamentally alter how individuals with dementia are perceived.