Joining forces to improve psychosocial care for people with cognitive deficits across diagnoses: social health as a common framework

Figures & data

Table 1. The operationalization of social health for people with dementia^a.

Dimensions of social health		Operationalization for dementia
1.	Having the capacity to fulfil one’s potential and obligations	The ability of a person living with dementia to function in the society according to his or her competencies and talents (‘potentials’) in the best possible way and to meet social demands (‘obligations’) on a micro and macro societal level.
2.	The ability to manage life with some degree of independence despite a medical condition	The ability to preserve autonomy and to solve problems in daily life, as well as to adapt to and cope with the practical and emotional consequences of dementia.
3.	Participation in social activities including work	The act of being occupied or involved with meaningful activities and social interactions and having social ties and relationships, which are meaningful to the person living with dementia themselves.

^a The dimensions of social health was proposed by Huber and colleagues¹² and the operationalization for dementia by Dröes and colleagues.²⁷