The ever-growing demand for home care services often causes caregivers to lose sight of the person behind the condition they’re treating.
Today, many government and non-governmental institutions offer a range of services to disabled and underprivileged people in society. They extend these services by identifying what a person is unable to do, then offer services based on that inability.
However, in doing so, this approach can unintentionally disempower the people it intended to help. Why? Many social services tend to be “self-centered” rather than “people-centered,”
A self-centered model pushes people to follow the path the caregiver thinks is appropriate—rather than empowering the patients to come up with individualized goals that can bring their dreams to life. This is why person-centered planning is preferred.
Instead of supporting people with special health care needs integrate with the general society, person-centered planning takes a different approach. It empowers patients to make decisions about their care and the support they need to live their lives.
Understanding Person-Centered Planning
It goes by many names; person-centered planning, person-centered practices, person-centered care. Whatever you call it, person-centered care is all about “good planning.”
Person-centered planning (PCP) is a model that gives individuals living with disabilities or those in need of special care more freedom to choose the type of support and services that best fit their personal needs.
PCP thus helps participants create and articulate a vision for the future, consider multiple paths, participate in decision making, and make needed adjustments on time. That said, person-centered planning is simply a way of discovering:
- How someone wants to live their lives
- What is required to make their dreams come true
Since PCP is a person-centered approach, it includes a written plan on how a person can work towards their needs and dreams.
Disability-related services, behavioral health organizations, and nursing homes are typical examples of where person-centered strategies are used to improve quality of life. Although PCP was developed for disabled people, it’s a tool for everyone.
Benefits of Person-Centered Planning to the Community
Person-centered care helps participants receive appropriate care and feel loved. It also brings more benefits to the healthcare centers and the community. Here are some of the benefits that PCP brings to patients and the community at large.
1. Person-Centered Care Helps Improve the Quality of Life
A growing body of evidence shows that person-centered care can help improve the quality of life. It can help:
- Improve the perception people have about person-centered care and help them feel more satisfied.
- Promote healthy living by encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle, such as working out and healthy eating.
- Build patients’ hope about the future
Offering personalized care can also improve the outcomes for professionals. A review from several sources on professionals providing personal care in a nursing home found that this approach increased job satisfaction and imparted a sense of accomplishment among the caregivers.
2. Improves Patient’s Independence
Person-centered care is not only beneficial to patients on a personal level; it also gives them a ticket to participate in decision making.
Participation in decision-making raises their engagement, enabling them to come up with the best decisions suitable for their care. Plus, it instills confidence in them, allowing them to appreciate their roles and look after themselves with less input from the caregiver.
3. It Can Help to Better Serve Those with Communication Problems
Some conditions can affect a person’s ability to communicate effectively. For example, those with dementia or learning disabilities can have problems discussing their goals and the best means to achieve those goals.
However, with a person-centered approach, caregivers can find different ways to communicate with them and help to improve the quality of life.
What are your thoughts on the person-centered approach and its impact on the community? Share with us in the comments section below.
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