Best Friends™ Approach
The Best Friends™ Approach to care is at the heart of everything we do. This approach is internationally recognized, designed to create the best possible days for individuals with dementia. Central to the Best Friends™ Approach is the understanding that exceptional care begins with learning, respecting and honoring a person’s life story. Our staff and volunteers know that relationships are the foundation of compassionate care.
Birthed in Kentucky: The Best Friends™ Approach
Virginia Bell, M.S.W.
Virgina led a meaningful life. Early in her career she facilitated support groups for individuals with dementia and their families. When she saw how great the needs were, she started one of the first dementia specific day centers in the country. That award winning program now called the Best Friends™ Adult Day Center celebrates over 40 years.
Christian Care Communities has embraced the Best Friends™ Approach across its residential and adult day programs, ensuring that people living with cognitive loss receive care grounded in dignity and genuine human connection. Through this philosophy, Christian Care Communities creates environments where each person is known, valued, and supported in ways that honor their strengths and life story.
Co-Author, The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care
Elements of The Best Friends™
This person-centered approach to dementia care is made up of four key elements:
Dementia Bill of Rights
The universal touchstone for dementia care reflects the underlying core principles of the Best Friends™ philosophy, stressing compassion, empathy, and respect in the face of a devastating disease.
Life Story
Because people with dementia often can no longer tell us their histories, care partners must learn how to help sustain the identities, past experiences, and preferences of each person in their care. The more a care partner knows about a person, the more he or she can use the Life Story to improve interactions and care.
Knack
Defined as “the art of doing difficult things with ease,” the Knack represents an attitude and set of skills that guarantee the success of the Best Friends™ approach (Knowledge, Nurturing, Approach, Community, Kinship). Care partners who practice Knack create a spirit of cooperation and enjoy more success in all their interactions with residents or participants.
Communication
Person-centered interactions are grounded in a core set of communication principles that promote dignity, encourage interactions, capitalize on social skills, and reinforce relationships.
Dancy Nancy! To know Nancy is to know her love for music and dancing. After moving to The Homeplace we learned Nancy’s adoration comes from years of teaching Jazzercize. Now, you find Nancy whirling around to her favorite 70s hits or upbeat pop songs, and before long you’ll see our team dancing right alongside her.
Henry has felt connected to baseball all his life, playing as a child and cheering on the Cincinnati Reds as an adult. When Henry and his wife moved from Colorado to The Homeplace he shared wanting to attend a Lexington Legends game. We were honored to take him. Now, we’re celebrating our second year of cheering on our hometown team together!
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