I am currently a participant in a course offered by Jennifer Carson, PhD, who is with the Sanford Center for Aging at UNR. Called "Bravo Zulu" as it was first intended for members of the military and their families, the topic and information are applicable to everyone serving as care giver or care recipient.
A first step in relationship-centered care is knowing and understanding the loved one with dementia and above all, making him/her an active member of the caregiving planning team. Few people like decisions foisted upon them without a shred of input, and that is true of those with dementia. Understanding of culture and cultural background is key to helping understand how needs can best be met and by offering solutions that match the values and wants of each individual.
Military families as a focus helps attendees better understand culture as the military entails strict rules and protocols especially focused on being tough and never asking for help. Breaking down, or at least chipping some holes in the "no-need-for-assistance" barrier, means that a loved one in need can receive care and advice that benefit good health and healthy living.
It is important in the military culture - just as in every culture - to begin by accepting that military is a general term and that Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines are specific. Each branch has a unique creed and mission. Not all military are infantrymen or sailors, just as every person is an individual. Relationship-centered care requires that caregivers fashion care around the concerns and desires of an individualized life history made up of experiences, events, and relationships.
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