Updated on November 7, 2024
As we consider the peculiarities of healthcare and social services, let’s focus on the individuals at the heart of these systems. Person-centered support is an approach that does just this.
What is Person-Centered Support?
At its core, person-centered support is about understanding and respecting the individual’s unique circumstances, strengths, and challenges.
It recognizes the individual’s different needs, choices and values, and empowers them to take control of their lives and make informed decisions about their welfare.
It’s an approach that values independence, dignity, and well-being and seeks to provide support tailored to their specific requirements.
Person-centered support is a transformative approach built on four fundamental principles that guide the support process and set it apart from traditional methods.
4 Principles of Person-Centered Support
1. Respect
Recognizing the individual’s independence, dignity, and worth is the foundation of person-centered support.
2. Empathy
This principle acknowledges an individual’s right to make choices and decisions about their life. Understanding and sharing the person’s feelings, and acknowledging their experiences and points of view is important in building trust and a good relationship.
Empathy allows caregivers to connect with the individual on a deeper level.
3. Empowerment
This enables the person to become an active participant in their support journey. It is essential to support individuals’ ability to take control of their lives, make informed decisions, and develop self-advocacy skills.
4. Individuality
The cornerstone of person-centered support is embracing the person’s unique needs, preferences and values, and tailoring support to meet their requirements.
This principle recognizes that each individual is unique, with their strengths, challenges and goals.
Benefits of Person-Centered Support
1. Improved health outcomes
Person-centered support motivates and encourages patients to follow treatment plans and develop healthier behaviours, resulting in improved health outcomes.
2. Enhanced patient satisfaction
Individuals will feel heard, respected and valued, leading to higher satisfaction rates and loyalty. This can lead to improved reputation and retention for healthcare providers.
3. Increased autonomy and self-esteem
Person-centered support empowers individuals to take control of their health, promoting confidence and self-efficacy which brings improved mental health.
4. Reduced hospitalization and readmission rates
Timely and effective support and early intervention will reduce the burden on healthcare systems and improve population health.
As the healthcare system changes, person-centered support is becoming important in delivering high-quality and patient-focused care.
By adopting a person-centered approach, healthcare providers can create a more compassionate, effective, and sustainable support system that recognizes the unique needs and preferences of each individual.
Traditional healthcare approach vs Person-centered support
1. Traditional approaches often prioritize standardized protocols and treatment plans over individual needs and preferences.
This can result in applying a universal strategy, where patients are seen as passive recipients of care rather than active partners.
In contrast, person-centered support focuses on understanding and respecting each patient’s unique experiences, values and needs.
2. Traditional healthcare approaches tend to place more emphasis on professional expertise and authority, sometimes leading to a power imbalance between healthcare providers and patients.
Person-centered support gives patients the power to take control of their health and make informed decisions about their care.
3. Traditional healthcare usually focuses on diagnosing and treating medical conditions, whereas person-centered support takes a more holistic approach.
It considers the physical, emotional, and social factors that influence a patient’s health and well-being and seeks to address these factors in a comprehensive and personal way.
By doing so, person-centered support can lead to more effective healthcare results, improved patient satisfaction, and an enhanced quality of life.
How to Implement Person-Centered Support
Effective communication
This means that healthcare professionals must not only share information about diagnoses and treatment options but also listen actively to their patients’ concerns, fears, and goals. In practice, this might involve spending more time with patients, where patients are encouraged to ask questions and express their preferences. Clear communication also ensures that the patients are well-informed and feel valued, which is necessary for building trust and promoting shared decision-making.
Creating Care Plans
Every patient is unique, and a single approach will most likely fail to meet the specific needs of individuals. Creating these care plans involves tailoring treatment plans to match the patient’s lifestyle, cultural background, and personal values. For instance, a patient managing a chronic condition like diabetes might benefit from a care plan that includes not just medical interventions but also dietary advice, mental health support, and community resources that align with their daily life and long-term goals.
Care Coordination
Patients often interact with various healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, specialists, and therapists, who must work together to ensure a smooth care process. Putting a coordinated care approach in practice means that all healthcare team members are aware of the patient’s overall care plan and communicate effectively with one another. This will reduce the risk of disorganized care, where important details might be overlooked, leading to poor results.
Proper Training for Workers
Healthcare providers need to be equipped with the skills necessary to practice empathetic communication, understand diverse patient backgrounds, and implement individualized care plans. Ongoing professional development and training programs can help ensure that healthcare workers stay up-to-date with the best practices in person-centered support.
Conclusion
Person-centered support ensures that healthcare is not just about treating diseases but about caring for the whole person. Focusing on the individual’s unique needs, preferences, and values leads to better patient outcomes, enhanced satisfaction, and a more humane healthcare experience.
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