Person-centred care has needed this book. Dawn Brooker, the former head of the Bradford Dementia Group and now head of the Association of Dementia Studies at University of Worcester, UK, has given us a simple yet profound model of person-centred care for people living with dementia.

This model is the VIPS model of person-centred care. We all know that a VIP is a Very Important Person. Brooker uses this popular acronym to describe the four core elements to a well-rounded understanding of person-centred care.

V = Value. Each person has value regardless of disability

I = Individualised. Care must be shaped to the particular needs and preferences of each person

P = Perspective. The person has a unique perspective on their life, feelings, ants and needs and this must be respected

S = Social. We are social beings who thrive in relationships of respect and understanding.

Brooker explores the practical implications of this model for care homes and for people providing care in their own home. However the focus is mostly towards care homes and professional caregivers.a model that is intuitively useful for explaining what person-centred care actually means in practice to caregivers who may think person-centred is what you do after you have your work done and have a little extra time to be kind and thoughtful. No, person-centred care is integral to everything you do. Its how you do what you do.

She then sets out a benchmarking process with detailed markers (24: Six for each of the four elements of the VIPS mode to help care homes to judge how they are progressing toward a more person-centred environment This is a valuable addition to the literature of benchmarking in aged care and brings person-centred markers into focus for those making decisions about the quality of care and the organisational supports that person-centred care needs if it is to take root in any organisation.

I highly recommend this book as a must have for the serious about person-centred approaches to the care of people with dementia