title: Uniforms in dementia care: A barrier or a necessity?
abstract: This is a case study of an ethical dilemma concerning the appropriateness of encouraging care-staff, working within a dementia care home, to either wear a clinical uniform or not to wear a clinical uniform in practice. It is proposed that people living with dementia may sustain higher levels of wellbeing if care-staff wear clothes that are more akin to their care home environment, for example, wearing similar clothes to the residents or even wearing pyjamas and nightwear during a night shift. The counter argument is that the practice may lead to greater levels of distress due to disorientation, increased potential for infection and inability to identify nurses when needed.
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Health Care, UK.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; care homes; dementia; person-centred care; staff uniforms