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Dementia care is about more than medical treatment. It is also about supporting the person, the family, and the everyday routines that make life meaningful.
The National Institute on Aging’s 2026 Dementia Care and Caregiving Research Summit brought together researchers, people living with dementia, care partners, clinicians, community organizations and other stakeholders. The recently released report does not recommend one treatment or a single care model. Instead, it highlights important research gaps and priorities that could help shape better dementia care in the years ahead.
Several of these priorities are especially meaningful for families: preserving personhood, involving people living with dementia and their care partners in care planning, strengthening community partnerships, improving coordination and addressing the needs of people living with dementia who do not have a care partner.
It is important to understand what the report does and does not do.
A summit report brings together research findings, professional perspectives and lived experiences to identify areas that deserve further study. It does not mean that every strategy discussed has been proven to improve outcomes.
For families, however, the report can provide useful questions when considering dementia care:
These questions can help families have more productive conversations with healthcare professionals and care providers.
One important priority is using strengths-based approaches that preserve personhood and relationship quality.
Personhood means seeing someone living with dementia as a whole person, not simply as a diagnosis. Their history, values, relationships, abilities, habits and preferences all remain important.
Sometimes, person-centered care starts with simple details:
These details may seem small, but familiar routines can support comfort, communication and trust.
Preferences can also change as dementia progresses. Rather than assuming what someone wants, families and caregivers can continue asking:
“What feels meaningful and respectful right now?
The report also emphasizes involving people living with dementia and care partners as co-designers and co-beneficiaries when developing interventions.
Co-design means more than asking families for feedback after a program has already been created. It means their experiences can help shape the goals, process and outcomes from the beginning.
Families can apply a similar idea to everyday care planning.
Whenever possible:
This can help create a more consistent approach and reduce the need for families to repeatedly explain the same information.
Dementia care often involves many different people and settings, including primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, community organizations, home care professionals and family members.
The report identifies care coordination as an important area for continued research.
Families can also take practical steps to support better communication. Consider maintaining a current, privacy-conscious summary that includes:
After a hospital stay, appointment, or other transition, ask two simple questions:
Who is responsible for the next step?
When should the follow-up happen?
Clear communication can be especially helpful when several family members or organizations are involved.
Another important priority is better understanding the needs of people living with dementia who do not have a care partner.
Many care systems unintentionally assume that a family member or close friend is available to help coordinate appointments, manage paperwork, notice changes, or provide daily support.
That is not always the case.
Researchers, healthcare organizations and community groups need better ways to identify and support people who are navigating dementia without an informal care network.
Professionals can help by asking:
Recognizing these gaps is an important part of creating more inclusive dementia care.
You do not need to change everything at once. A simple conversation can be a helpful starting point.
Ask:
1. What matters most to the person right now?
2. Which familiar routines help support comfort and identity?
3. What is becoming difficult for the care partner?
4. Who is responsible for the next follow-up?
The answers can help families identify what is working, what may need to change and where additional support could make everyday life easier.
Person-centered dementia care often extends beyond medical appointments. Non-medical in-home support can help families with everyday needs such as companionship, meal preparation, personal care, safety supervision and assistance with daily routines.
At ComForCare Home Care North San Diego, we understand that every person and family has different needs. Our goal is to provide supportive care that respects individual routines, preferences, dignity and independence while helping families navigate the challenges of dementia at home.
If your family is exploring options for additional support, call (858) 247-1005 to learn more about personalized in-home care in ComForCare North San Diego County.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Questions about dementia symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, or safety should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Information about specialized dementia programs and services should be confirmed based on current local availability and credentials.
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