Table 2

Dementia-specific basic capabilities

Capabilities	Possible external setbacks	Possible external facilitators
Expression of desires or showing will	Inflexible dietary regimen or bathing schedule.	Flexible meal options or bathing schedule.
The ability to have emotional experiences or expressions	Prolonged and unnecessary use of antipsychotics to induce sedation.	Active listening when people with dementia talk about their feelings.
Self-respect	Belittling remarks.	Engagement in activities that give people with dementia a sense of purpose.
Initiating social interaction	Excessive use of physical restraint.	Enabling group activities.
Affectional warmth	Unwelcoming care environment.	Congenial caring attitudes.
Social sensitivity	Depriving people with dementia of continued social contact.	Involving people with dementia in conversations to the greatest extent possible.
Accepting other people with dementia	Inappropriate management of resident-to-resident aggression in nursing homes.	Fostering social connectedness with and among residents in nursing homes.
Humour	Overly serious and uncompromising caring environment.	Providing appropriate amusement opportunities.
Creativity and self-expression	Forcing people with dementia to follow strict rules when engaged in creative acts such as producing visual arts.	Enabling creative activities such as painting and singing songs.
Showing evident pleasure	Limited entertainment opportunities.	Providing adequate entertainment opportunities such as group games.
Helpfulness	Conveying an explicit or implicit message to people with dementia that they are so frail to be able to help others.	Enabling fellow resident support in nursing homes to the greatest extent possible.
Relaxation	Loud and chaotic care environment.	Appropriate management of sleep and anxiety problems.
Bodily health	Undermanagement of pain.	Providing non-pharmacological interventions as first-line treatment for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Bodily integrity	Forcing people with dementia to take medications.	Respecting dissent to take medications to the greatest extent possible.
Connecting with other species	Limited interaction with non-human animals or limited access to green space.	Providing opportunities for animal companionship or gardening.