ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the types of risks that people who live with dementia may face and discusses the types of risk assessment and management approaches that are likely to be involved. The use of a clinical scenario helps underpin the principles of risk management from a strength-based perspective. Due to the complexity of dementia, vulnerability and most notably the high levels of co-morbidity that exist amongst people living with dementia, the risks are likely to be multifactorial and may differ to those presented by other mental health service users. Risk enablement is a strength-based approach that recognises each person living with dementia possesses more abilities than they have lost and builds on those abilities that he or she has retained. One of the biggest barriers to enabling people with dementia when managing risk is an overly cautious approach. 'Safety first' approaches are disempowering for people with dementia and can prevent them from doing things that most people take for granted.
