How Printed Logbooks and Manuals Support Dementia Care Teams
- Lisa Quevedo
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Supporting Carers with Practical, Patient-Centred Documentation
In the world of dementia care, where compassion meets complexity, the smallest systems can make the biggest difference. This is the story of how one care facility reimagined its documentation process, not through high-tech solutions, but through thoughtful, customised logbooks and printed manuals that support both dementia care teams and their patients.
How will Logbooks and Manuals Support Dementia Care
Livewell, a leading dementia care facility in South Africa, is known for its personalised approach to patient well-being. But like many care environments, its staff, especially nurses and caretakers, were juggling fragmented paperwork, spreadsheets, and loose files to track daily activities.
Despite attempts to digitise, many carers preferred handwritten notes. Whether due to system outages or simply the comfort of pen and paper, the need for a reliable, physical, streamlined solution became clear.
Training That Reflects the Heart of Care
Alongside her work at Livewell, Heidi Venter runs a training company called Trainify, known as ACT, which equips nurses and carers with the skills to provide high-quality dementia support. Her training manuals were medically compliant but lacked personalisation.
Rather than reinvent the content, the team chose to rebrand the materials, giving them a professional, cohesive look that aligned with ACT’s identity. This small change helped reinforce the credibility and consistency of the training experience.
Designing Patient Logbooks That Work for Real People
The next challenge was patient documentation. Instead of relying on scattered notes, the team developed a system of monthly logbooks, one for each patient, with 30 pages per month, neatly stored in their rooms.
Each patient received:
12 monthly booklets for the year
Pre-labelled covers with names and dates
Space for daily notes, observations, and care logs
This structure allowed nurses to record information quickly, keep everything in one place, and maintain continuity of care, even when staff rotated or systems failed.
The Setup Process: What Healthcare Teams Should Know
Creating a bulk printing system for healthcare documentation involves a few key steps:
1. Content Review
Start with your existing materials - whether training guides, operational manuals, or patient logs. Decide what needs to be retained, updated, or rebranded.
2. Artwork and Layout
Design the covers and internal pages to reflect your organisation’s identity. This includes logos, colours, and formatting that make the documents easy to use and visually consistent.
3. Binding and Format
Choose a binding method that suits your environment:
Plastic combs for flexibility
Wire or spiral binding for durability
Clear covers and backboards for protection
4. Print and Reorder System
Once the initial setup is complete, reordering becomes simple. You only need to update patient names, dates, or quantities - saving time and reducing admin stress.
Videos about the Livewell Booklets that Support Dementia Care Teams
Hear directly from Archie and Lisa Quevedo about how printed logbooks and manuals support dementia care teams, plus what you need to make it happen.
The process and impact of this project:
Why Printed Materials Still Matter in Care Facilities
For many carers, especially in hospice and dementia care, paper-based systems offer reliability, familiarity, and ease of use. They don’t rely on Wi-Fi, batteries, or software updates, and they can be tailored to the rhythms of real-world caregiving.
Printed manuals and logbooks:
Reduce documentation errors
Improve team communication
Support compliance and audits
Honour the preferences of experienced staff
Need Help Setting Up Your Own System?
If your facility is exploring ways to streamline documentation, whether for training, patient care, or operational records - Campus Printing Solutions can help with setup, design, printing, and ongoing support.
We understand the unique needs of healthcare teams and offer practical solutions that work in real life.
👉 Contact Us to explore options for your care environment.
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