When providing care, it's crucial to prioritise person-centred care that caters to the specific needs of the individual. The primary goal of person-centred care is to improve a person's health and well-being outcomes.
Whether they make a small difference or a big one, health and care professionals can significantly improve a person's care by adopting a person-centred approach in everyday practices.
There are numerous examples of person-centred care, and while it's impossible to mention them all, some include:
Treating the person receiving care with dignity, compassion and respect
Tailoring care to suit individual needs
Providing coordinated care, support, and treatment
Supporting the individual to understand and learn about their health
Assisting individuals to recognise and develop strengths and abilities so they can improve their wellbeing, take care of themselves, and maintain their independence
Involving care recipients in their healthcare decisions at all times
Making clinical actions more person-centred, for example, if a person being cared for has low blood glucose levels, and it's noted that they love red jelly babies, care staff can boost their blood glucose levels through a person-centred clinical intervention.
Other examples of person-centred care could be:
Changing bedtime to match personal preferences
Providing tools so the person receiving care can perform everyday tasks independently, such as a seat in the shower, non-spill cups with large handles etc
Allowing individuals to choose their preferred meal during mealtime
Letting the individual choose which clothes to wear for the day, considering both practicality and personal preferences
Each person has their own identity, wishes, needs, choices, beliefs and values. A 'one size fits all' does not work when providing care and support. It's vital to encourage individuals to express themselves and to change their minds about things when they want to. Taking the time to discuss their desires, needs, and dislikes is crucial.
Person-centred care is about providing tailored care based on an individual's specific needs - this approach should consider the individual as a whole rather than just their medical condition.
