Self-Reported Needs of People with Dementia Living at Home

Demographic changes are associated with an increased number of people with dementia.1 Cognitive communication disorders and reduced ability to use the environment to meet one’s own needs are part of the dementia syndrome.2 The relationship between meeting one´s needs and quality of life is generally accepted.3 Quality of life is a very broad concept with different dimensions which can be approached from many perspectives. Also, needs can be approached from different perspectives: for example, objective and subjective.4 Objective needs can be measured by relevant tools or reported by family or professional carers,5 whereas subjective needs are based on individual feelings and self-perception.6,7 Previous studies have shown that a higher quality of life is related to a lower number of unmet needs.6,8,9 To ensure an adequate quality of life for a person with dementia, it is necessary to focus on meeting their objective as well as subjective needs.