The About me resources are available in four formats: In brief, In depth, Snapshot and one designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These resources help to start the conversation about who a person is outside of their clinical care needs.
It is used to guide conversations about personal preferences, history, values and relationships. This knowledge can shape your understanding of how to provide care and support through a holistic approach. Either of these resources can be used by a person living with dementia, or as a guided conversation with support of family, informal carer, or formal care staff across any care setting.
Once you have completed an About me resource, consider how members of the care team will have easy access to them. Family members may like to bring completed copies when the person living with dementia is admitted to hospital, attending any form of respite care, or transitioning into residential care. Community care providers can ensure that anyone who is visiting the person at home is aware of them. Likewise in residential care settings, this resource can help all team members who interact with the person in care to connect, engage and provide comfort to the person.
No matter which care setting is relevant, the About me resources are a useful component in a proactive behaviour support approach (i.e. before the occurrence of behaviour change) and will help strategies to be tailored to the person if distress does occur (i.e. during or after the occurrence of a change in behaviour).