Picture this: You walk into the lounge room to grab your cup of tea, and for a moment, you forget why you are there. Now imagine that fog lasting all day, with names, places, and even loved ones slipping away like sand through your fingers. That is the world many older people with dementia live in.

When it comes to dementia care, policies matter. Not the kind that collect dust on a shelf, but the kind that guide real action. If you are working in aged care or health care, you already know this is no small task. Caring for someone with cognitive impairment is personal, emotional, and often unpredictable. But it does not have to be unplanned.

Let us talk about what good dementia care policy looks like—and how to build it from the ground up.

Why Dementia Needs Its Own Playbook

Dementia is not just about memory loss. It affects how a person thinks, moves, speaks, and feels. It can change the way someone sees the world—and how they react to it.

That is why general aged care plans are not enough. People with dementia need care that is tailored to how their brain is changing.

A good memory care policy understands:

• People with dementia may feel confused, anxious, or fearful.
  
• Routines, environments, and even tone of voice can make a big difference.
  
• Communication can break down—so patience and support are key.
  
• Care should feel safe, familiar, and respectful.
  

Writing policies with these facts in mind can help you meet the person where they are—not where you expect them to be.

Start With the Person, Not the Diagnosis

No two people with dementia are exactly alike. One person might become very quiet and withdrawn. Another may be restless or irritable. Some can still joke, laugh, and recognise family, while others may live fully in the past.

So, where do you begin?

You start by listening.

Person-centred care should be the heartbeat of every dementia policy. This means asking:

• What matters most to the person right now?
  
• What makes them feel safe, calm, or happy?
  
• How can care routines fit into their life—not the other way around?
  

You are not fixing a broken engine. You are walking beside someone whose path is slowly shifting. That takes compassion, time, and good planning.

Making Space for Behavioural Support

One tricky part of dementia is that it can lead to behaviours that seem strange or upsetting. A person might wander, repeat questions, or shout without warning. Sometimes, they may even lash out—not out of meanness, but confusion or fear.

Your policy should help care workers:

• Recognise the behaviour is a form of communication
  
• Respond with calm, not control
  
• Look for causes like pain, hunger, boredom, or unfamiliar surroundings
  
• Offer gentle redirection instead of punishment
  

A solid plan gives workers permission and tools to respond in ways that are helpful—not harmful. The last thing anyone needs is a reaction that adds fuel to the fire.

Safe but Not Restrictive

Keeping people with dementia safe is important. But that does not mean locking doors or stripping away independence.

Policies should ask:

• Can the person still choose what they wear, eat, or watch on television?
  
• Can they walk outside with supervision or sit in the garden?
  
• Are alarms and alerts being used fairly, not just for convenience?
  

You want to protect dignity, not just reduce risk. Because while safety matters, so does the feeling of being human.

Training Is Not a One-Off

Caring for someone with dementia is not something you learn in one go. It takes practice, patience, and the ability to roll with the punches.

A strong policy will include ongoing training. That means regular refreshers on:

• Communication techniques
  
• Recognising different types of cognitive impairment
  
• Supporting emotional and physical needs
  
• Responding to difficult behaviours
  

But here is the key—training should not feel like a chore. It should feel like adding tools to your kit. That way, workers can feel confident instead of overwhelmed.

Support for the Supporters

Looking after someone with dementia can be a long, emotional ride. It is draining, and even the best carers can feel burnt out.

So your dementia care policy should have space for:

• Breaks and time off for staff
  
• Support groups or mentoring
  
• Emotional check-ins after tough days
  
• Clear lines of help when things get too much
  

If you want people to provide good care, you have to care for them, too. It is like putting your own oxygen mask on first.

Rethinking Environments

The place where someone lives or spends their days can make a big difference in how they feel and behave.

Think about these questions:

• Are rooms clearly labelled to reduce confusion?
  
• Are spaces calm, bright, and not too noisy?
  
• Is there somewhere quiet to sit, or a garden to enjoy?
  
• Are there familiar objects—like photos, books, or blankets—that bring comfort?
  

Your policy should not just focus on people—it should also guide how to shape the environment in a way that works with dementia, not against it.

Cultural and Language Awareness

Dementia does not erase a person’s history. In fact, it often brings old memories to the surface. Someone may forget what they ate this morning but clearly remember childhood meals or lullabies in their native language.

That means your dementia policy must include:

• Language preferences
  
• Cultural rituals or custom
  
• Food and music that bring comfort
  
• Respect for spiritual beliefs
  

Treating a person like a full human being starts with understanding who they were before the diagnosis—and still are underneath it.

Clear Communication With Families

Families are not just visitors. They are part of the care team. But they are also grieving—often slowly and silently—as the person they love changes in front of them.

Good policy includes:

• Clear, regular updates
  
• Honest conversations about what to expect
  
• Invitations to participate in care (when appropriate)
  
• Support for tough decisions
  

Sometimes, just a kind word or quick phone call can make all the difference.

Measuring What Matters

How do you know if your dementia policy is working? It is not just about ticking boxes. It is about noticing whether people feel safe, calm, and respected.

That means checking in on things like:

• Are people with dementia staying engaged and connected?
  
• Are incidents of distress going down?
  
• Are staff feeling supported and confident
  
• Are families feeling heard?
  

When the focus stays on quality of life, the numbers start to make more sense.

The Small Stuff Is the Big Stuff

You might think writing policy means thinking big. And yes, big ideas matter. But in dementia care, the small stuff carries the weight.

• Singing a familiar song
  
• Knowing how someone takes their tea
  
• Recognising that wandering is not misbehaviour, but memory in motion
  
• Taking five minutes to sit beside someone and just be present
  

Policies should give room for these moments. Because they are not just extras—they are the point.

What You Can Do Now

If you are building or reviewing aged care dementia policies, here are a few simple steps you can take:

1. Listen to staff who work directly with people who have dementia.
   
2. Speak with families who live through the highs and lows every day.
   
3. Ask people with early cognitive changes what matters to them now.
   
4. Write your policy in plain language.
   
5. Review it often—because care is never one-size-fits-all.
   

Final Thoughts: Lead With Kindness

Writing good dementia care policies is not about ticking checklists or adding fancy terms. It is about kindness, patience, and seeing the person behind the condition.

Every older person with dementia is still a whole person. They still feel love, joy, fear, and connection. Your job—through thoughtful policy—is to meet them with care, wherever they are in their journey.

They may forget your name. But they will remember how you made them feel.

And that, more than anything, is what good dementia care is all about.