Living Fully with Dementia: Maslow’s Ladder as a Practical Guide for Care

Abstract

Understand that Dementia significantly reshapes how people
experience everyday life, but it does not erase the fundamental
needs that guide happiness and well-being. This article reframes
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs specifically for those living with
dementia, highlighting how core human needs persist despite
cognitive decline. It emphasizes practical implications for care,
dignity, connection, and meaning, and reinforces the central idea
that, at the end of the day, the ability to thrive in life rests on the
same foundational principles for everyone.