Safeguarding People who have Dementia

Safeguarding refers to a set of measures designed to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect.
For individuals with dementia, safeguarding is particularly important as they may not have the capacity to protect themselves or make decisions regarding their own safety.
Dementia affects memory, thinking, problem-solving ability and language. Abuse or neglect can occur when the individual’s deterioration in these cognitive functions leaves them vulnerable.
It’s crucial to safeguard against physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse. This also includes neglect, both self-neglect and neglect by those who are responsible for their care.
To safeguard those with dementia, individuals involved in their care must recognise potential signs of abuse. This requires knowledge on what constitutes abuse and neglect, and how it may manifest in someone with dementia.
Symptoms of abuse may include unexplained injuries, decreased social interactions, indications of fear around certain individuals, changes in mood or behaviour, sudden changes in finances or lifestyle, and poor personal hygiene.
Financial exploitation is a common form of abuse against those with dementia. This may involve tricking the individual into giving money, property, or personal information.
It’s imperative to promote a safe environment, monitor their financial transactions and ensure legal authority for managing their financial affairs is properly in place.
Policies and procedures need to be in existence to ensure the safety of individuals with dementia. This includes having care plans which are person-centred, comprehensive, and regularly updated.
Organisations should have policies that encourage whistleblowing and reporting of suspected abuse. Staff should be trained in recognising signs of abuse and in how to effectively raise concerns.
Always consider the individual’s rights, dignity and choice when implementing safeguarding measures. Safeguarding should be empowering, not controlling, and should aim to give individuals the maximum possible control over their lives.
Lastly, remember that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and anyone who has contact with an individual with dementia has a role to play in protecting them from harm.