What Is Person-Centred Care?
Person-centred care refers to a methodology in health and social care where professionals work collaboratively with the person they serve to reach positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
The ultimate goal of person-centred care is to empower individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to make well-informed decisions concerning their health and wellness. What’s more, person-centred care is coordinated and tailored to the unique needs and wants of the individual requiring support. One of the most important aspects of person-centred care is that all individuals requiring support are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
Person-centred care services have provided positive health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals, including older individuals and individuals living with long-term conditions, disabilities, or difficulties.
Person-Centred Care vs Patient-Centred Care
When discussing this matter, it’s essential to make a distinction between person-centred care and patient-centred care.
With person-centred care, the healthcare professional provides support together with the individual. While with patient-centred care, support is given to the individual without their personal needs and wants necessarily being at the centre of the care plan.
It’s crucial to understand that there are many different principles when it comes to providing person-centred care. This is due to the fact that person-centred care is still evolving as a concept.
Person-Centred Approach in Health and Social Care
Person-centred care and support can have a great impact on the overall quality of life of individuals.
A person-centred approach in health and social care includes:
- Putting people at the centre of care
- Respecting the individual's personal values
- Taking into account the individual's personal preferences, needs, and wants
- Making sure the individual is physically comfortable and feels safe
- Providing emotional support to family, friends, or caregivers
- Ensuring the individuals have access to the appropriate care at the right time and place
- Ensure the individuals receiving support are aligned with the care plan
- Ensure service users are well informed in order to make decisions for their own care and support
An essential aspect of a person-centred approach is ensuring that the care providers are open to receiving new preferences or feedback and making changes when needed.
Why Is Person-Centred Care So Important?
One of the main reasons why person-centred care is important is because it promotes independence. Taking into consideration people’s preferences, needs, requirements, and people’s values allows them to take part in the support dedicated to their own health.
What’s more, this type of care service meets the emotional and social needs of people requiring support. By providing personalised care, the care providers and care receivers build trust, which makes the overall process more effective.
Therefore, personalised care is both beneficial and important for both the service provider and the person receiving the care.
Person-Centred Care in Practice
There are various models and methodologies for implementing person-centred care. Carers should adapt to the needs of the individual while implementing this type of care.
Putting person-centred care into practice requires healthcare professionals to engage in effective communication, empathy, and active listening to truly understand and respond to the needs and preferences of the individual they support.
Our vision for providing person-centred care at Leaf Complex Care follows the highest ethical standards. We focus on implementing compassion, dedication, and kindness in our approach to every individual with complex care needs.
As home care providers, we always treat our service users’ boundaries and preferences as crucial factors in outlining our personalised care plan.
Principles of Person-Centred Care
There are four principles of person-centred care healthcare professionals should always have in mind when implementing this approach to ensure positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
1. Dignity, Compassion, and Respect at the Forefront
It’s crucial to understand that even though some individuals might lose part of their independence, due to a range of challenges, they still have their own thoughts, needs, and feelings.
Respecting their needs and opinions can empower individuals under care to feel more in control of their healing journey and own health. It’s essential to create and follow treatment plans with a great amount of dignity, compassion, and respect.
2. Focus on Coordinated Care, Support, and Treatment
Care plans can easily be disjointed if there’s a lack of alignment between support workers, the care services, and the individual requiring support.
Effective communication is paramount for positive outcomes and a crucial principle of person-centred care. Prioritising the needs of the person receiving support and making coordinated care planning a top priority is essential for providing effective care.
3. Offer Personalised Care, Support, and Treatment
Personalising services for each individual enables them to maintain their autonomy and meet their unique needs and requirements. Employing a one-size-fits-all approach could hinder their progress and their ability to effectively manage their challenges. By personalising the care experience, individuals have the opportunity to retain a sense of control over their health journey, fostering a greater likelihood of successful recovery and empowerment.
4. Develop Strengths and Skills for an Independent and Fulfilling Life
Active involvement of service users in decision-making is crucial, as it empowers them to take ownership of their wellbeing and equips them with the necessary knowledge to support themselves. This collaborative approach benefits both the care services and the individual, as it fosters a sense of control and reduces dependency on the service provided. However, it is important to strike a balance, as excessive engagement may make individuals feel disempowered, with decisions being made on their behalf.
Therefore, maintaining open communication strategies that involve the person receiving care and their caregivers is essential to ensure that their voices are heard and respected.
Benefits of Person-Centred Care
Person-centred care offers numerous benefits to both patients and healthcare systems. Firstly, it improves patient satisfaction and engagement by empowering individuals to actively participate in their own care. When patients feel heard, respected, and involved in their treatment decisions, they are more likely to have a positive healthcare experience. This leads to increased trust, improved adherence to treatment plans, and better health outcomes. What’s more, person-centred care fosters a collaborative relationship between patients and healthcare providers, enhancing communication and promoting shared decision-making.
Another significant benefit of person-centred care is its potential to enhance the overall quality and safety of healthcare. By tailoring care plans to individual needs, preferences, and values, healthcare providers can deliver more personalised and effective treatments. This approach helps reduce the risk of medical errors, adverse events, and unnecessary interventions. Additionally, person-centred care recognises the importance of addressing social and emotional factors that impact health, leading to improved holistic wellbeing.
Overall, person-centred care holds the potential to transform healthcare delivery by prioritising the individual, improving patient outcomes, and creating a more patient-centric and efficient healthcare system.
The Potential for People-Centred Care to Transform Healthcare
By shifting to a model that prioritises the needs, preferences, and values of individuals, healthcare systems can achieve remarkable transformations. People-centred care emphasises the importance of active engagement, shared decision-making, and personalised approaches that consider the unique circumstances of each individual.
This approach not only leads to improved outcomes and satisfaction but also contributes to more efficient and effective healthcare delivery. By tailoring care plans to the specific needs and goals of patients, unnecessary interventions and costs can be reduced. What’s more, people-centred care acknowledges the social determinants of health and recognises the importance of addressing the broader factors that impact wellbeing. It encourages a holistic approach that considers the physical, emotional, and social aspects of an individual’s health, paving the way for preventive measures and long-term support.
Ultimately, people-centred care has the potential to create a healthcare system that is more compassionate, inclusive, and responsive, thereby promoting better health outcomes and quality of life for all.
Leaf Complex Care Proudly Practice Person-centred Care Approach
In our ongoing efforts to transform healthcare for the better, we are dedicated to championing a person-centred care approach that prioritises the needs and preferences of individuals. By adopting this approach, we aim to create a healthcare environment where the people we serve feel valued, empowered, and actively involved in their own health. Our commitment extends beyond theoretical principles as we actively train our clinicians to apply person-centred care and incorporate Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies into their practice.
With our person-centred care approach, we strive to make a tangible impact on healthcare outcomes and experiences. We firmly believe that by embracing this approach, we can unlock the full potential of healthcare, promoting improved patient satisfaction, enhanced health outcomes, and a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system.
For more information, contact our offices in Bristol, Slough, Midlands and Somerset.
