Person-Centred Care with Practical Examples
Understanding Person‑Centred Care with Practical Examples
Person‑centred care sits at the heart of high‑quality health and social care. It is more than a philosophy; it is a practical, everyday approach that ensures people are treated as individuals with their own histories, preferences, abilities, and aspirations.
When done well, person‑centred care builds trust, promotes dignity, and empowers individuals to take an active role in their own wellbeing.
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What Person‑Centred Care Really Means
At its core, person‑centred care is about seeing the person before the task.
It shifts the focus from “What is the matter with you?” to “What matters to you?”
This means:
- Respecting personal choices and preferences.
- Supporting independence wherever possible.
- Involving individuals in decisions about their care.
- Recognising emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual needs.
- Working collaboratively with families, advocates, and multidisciplinary teams.
- This approach acknowledges that people are experts in their own lives.
Care professionals bring clinical and practical expertise, but the individual brings lived experience, values, and goals. Person‑centred care is where these two forms of expertise meet.
What is Person Centred Care?
Person-centred care involves tailoring support to an individual’s unique preferences, history, and needs, treating them with dignity and promoting independence. It means seeing the person first, not the task, and shaping care around what matters most to them.
In practice, this includes developing personalised care plans, offering genuine choice in daily routines such as meal times or wake-up times, encouraging independence through positive risk-taking, and involving families or advocates in key decisions to ensure the individual remains at the heart of their own care.
Examples of Person‑Centred Care in Practice
- Tailored Daily Routines: Adjusting schedules to match preferred wake‑up, bedtime, or daily habits.
- Life Story & Personalised Activities: Using personal history to shape meaningful activities, such as gardening.
- Active Choice & Decision‑Making: Offering real choices, including visual meal options for those with dementia.
- Respectful Personal Care: Protecting dignity by knocking, asking permission, and maintaining privacy.
- Collaborative Care Planning: Involving the individual and family so plans reflect what matters to them.
- Positive Risk‑Taking: Supporting enjoyable activities safely rather than restricting them.
- Individualised Environment: Encouraging personal items to make living spaces feel homely.
- Meaningful Occupation: Offering purposeful tasks, like delivering newspapers, if the person wishes.
- Individualised Communication: Using preferred communication methods, such as gestures or picture cards.
- Flexible Support: Allowing loved ones to assist with care routines when appropriate.
Compare this with our 12 examples of dignity in care and you can also download our checklist.
Practical Examples in Everyday Care
1. Supporting Choice in Daily Routines
A person living in a care home prefers to shower in the evening because it helps them relax before bed. Another prefers a morning shower to feel refreshed for the day.
A task‑focused approach might schedule everyone’s showers at the same time for convenience.
A person‑centred approach adapts routines to suit individual preferences, even if it requires small adjustments to staffing or planning.
2. Meal Planning Based on Personal Preferences
Instead of offering a standard menu, staff take time to learn about each person’s cultural background, dietary needs, and favourite foods.
For example, a resident who grew up eating Caribbean cuisine may feel more at home when offered jerk chicken or plantain occasionally. This isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about identity, comfort, and belonging.
3. Involving People in Their Own Care Plans
A person with early‑stage dementia is developing a care plan.
Rather than staff completing it alone, they sit with the individual and their family to discuss what is important to them: staying active, maintaining independence with dressing, and continuing their weekly gardening club.
These priorities shape the care plan, ensuring it reflects the person’s values rather than a generic template.
4. Promoting Independence Through Enablement
A support worker notices that a person recovering from a stroke can now lift their arm more easily. Instead of continuing to do tasks for them, the worker encourages them to try brushing their hair with gentle support.
This small step builds confidence and supports rehabilitation. Person‑centred care recognises strengths and nurtures them.
5. Respecting Communication Preferences
A non‑verbal individual uses a communication board. Staff take time to learn their symbols, gestures, and expressions.
During mealtimes, instead of assuming what they want, staff present options and wait for the person to point or signal.
This ensures the individual remains in control and avoids frustration or misinterpretation.
6. Creating Meaningful Activities
A man with learning disabilities loves trains. Staff arrange occasional trips to a local railway station and incorporate train‑themed puzzles and books into his weekly activities.
This transforms “activity time” from a generic schedule into something meaningful and motivating.
These practical examples can help you demonstrate what person-centred care looks like in your day-to-day interactions with the people you support.
The Role of Care Professionals
Delivering person‑centred care requires curiosity, empathy, and flexibility. It means:
- Asking open questions.
- Listening actively.
- Observing non‑verbal cues.
- Recording preferences accurately.
- Reviewing care plans regularly.
- Challenging task‑driven routines when they undermine dignity.
It also involves recognising that preferences change. What matters to someone today may not be what matters next month, so ongoing dialogue is essential.
Key Laws and Regulations Supporting Person‑Centred Care
Person‑centred care in the UK is shaped by key laws requiring care to reflect each person’s needs, preferences, and choices.
The main requirement is Regulation 9 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, supported by the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Main UK Laws and Regulations
- Regulation 9 (Person‑Centred Care): Care must be personalised and based on individual assessment.
- The Care Act 2014: Puts wellbeing, dignity, independence, and involvement at the centre of care.
- Regulation 10 & Regulation 11: Require dignity, respect, privacy, and valid consent.
- Equality Act 2010: Care must be non‑discriminatory and consider protected characteristics.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005: Protects decision‑making rights and sets out Best Interests decisions.
- Health and Social Care Act 2012: Requires patient involvement in decisions about their care.
Who Regulates Person‑Centred Care in the UK?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the main regulator for person‑centred care in England.
It monitors, inspects, and regulates services to ensure they meet the fundamental standards, including dignity, respect, consent, and personalised care under Regulation 9.
1. Care Quality Commission (England)
- Ensures providers comply with Regulation 9: Person‑Centred Care.
- Assesses services using five key questions, with strong focus on “Caring” and “Responsive”.
- Looks for personalised care, involvement in decisions, and respectful, dignified support.
- Can take enforcement action, including warnings, restrictions, or cancelling registration.
2. Regulators in Other UK Nations
- Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW).
- Scotland: The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
- Northern Ireland: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).
3. Compliance Requirements (Regulation 9)
Providers must ensure:
- Personalised care plans based on needs and preferences.
- Valid consent for all care and treatment.
- Dignity, respect, and protection of autonomy.
4. Reporting Concerns
- Raise issues with the provider through their complaints process.
- Report poor care directly to the CQC.
- Escalate unresolved complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman (social care) or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (NHS).
Reflective Questions on Person- Centred Care
1. How well do I understand each person’s preferences, routines, and life history?
Consider whether your knowledge genuinely shapes the care you provide.
2. Do I consistently involve individuals in decisions about their care?
Reflect on moments where you may unintentionally make assumptions.
3. What steps do I take to promote independence and positive risk‑taking?
Think about whether safety measures ever limit autonomy more than necessary.
4. How do I ensure dignity, privacy, and respect during every interaction?
Examine your habits during personal care and everyday communication.
5. Am I adapting my communication style to suit each person’s needs?
Assess whether your approach helps people express themselves clearly.
6. How effectively do I work with families or advocates in care planning?
Reflect on whether you actively seek and use their insights.
7. What changes could I make to make care more personalised and meaningful?
Identify small, practical adjustments you can implement immediately.
Conclusion
Person‑centred care is not an add‑on; it is the foundation of compassionate, effective practice.
By taking time to understand each person’s story, preferences, and aspirations, care professionals create environments where individuals feel valued and empowered.
The practical examples above show that person‑centred care is not complicated, it simply requires intention, respect, and a commitment to seeing the whole person.
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