National Preventive Mechanism greater care needs and one-to-one interaction, as well as a particular culture of communication with those affected. The situation is even more complicated for some persons with dementia by the fact that, depending upon their background and the duration of the illness, they may no longer be incorporated into social networks. If social support is only available to a limited extent outside of the facility, the other nursing home residents and professional carers are often the only reference persons. In the view of the NPM, the focus of treatment and care for persons with dementia must be on maintaining subjective well-being and optimising objective living conditions as a significant element of quality of life. The NPM’s recommendations thus cover in particular both the provision of person-focused care and the implementation of the principle of normalisation within the structure of the day. The NPM centres its enquiries in this regard on everyday orientation, biography work and milieu therapy. Validation, basal stimulation, reminiscence therapy, work and movement are also particularly significant forms of comprehensible communication and interaction. Sensory and consensual experiences are enhanced by cooking and eating together. Residents’ special preferences should also be taken into account, along with food rich in calories and vitamins. The NPM views positively the usage of Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) as an instrument for surveying both residents’ quality of life and quality of care. Well-being and living conditions Gerontopsychiatric care proved to be inadequate in many facilities. With the exception of Vorarlberg and the facilities of the Vienna Association of Medical Institutions (Krankenanstaltverbund, KAV), it seems that it is not possible to involve specialist neurologists and psychiatrists in order to diagnose and treat long-term care residents suffering from gerontopsychiatric illnesses on a comprehensive scale, often repeatedly throughout the year. There are districts in Austria (e.g. Tamsweg/Lungau) in which still no psychiatrists work as contractual partners of health insurance providers or as specialised medical consultants in homes. Inadequate gerontopsychiatric support Inpatient care facilities for persons with dementia require comprehensive barrier-free spatial and structural conditions to enable disoriented elderly persons to move freely, as far as possible, without undermining their feeling of security. Familiar, age-appropriate furniture and comfort zones create a feeling of homeliness, which is largely lacking in hospital-like buildings of a specified facility. Clearly visible aids to orientation, the avoidance of reflective surfaces, attention to anti-glare and the use of low-contrast flooring reduce the risk of elderly persons feeling irritated. Structural conditions in some cases not suited to patients with dementia Even in facilities with outdoor areas and gardens, the commissions have observed, that staff in many cases do not have time to accompany residents outdoors. For the elderly, movement is an important aspect of care and support. Last year the NPM reported that residents tend to receive too little mobility support because nursing staff do not have sufficient resources for this (see NPM Inadequate mobility support and time spent outdoors 101