Power of Person-Centred Care: Putting Patients First for Better Outcomes

In health and social care, person-centred care moves away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach and focuses on the unique needs and individuality of each person. This leads to a better patient outcome, a happier experience for everyone, and in the end, a more caring and satisfying care system.

Imagine if every person at work got to have their say and feel valued for who they are. That is what we’re going to talk about – making work a place where everyone feels appreciated and understood, just like Emily in her journey to feeling happy and supported at work.

Emily is a young woman who has multiple sclerosis and has just moved into a place where people help her with daily things.

Even though Emily needs help sometimes, she likes to do things on her own and really loves music therapy.

But the place she is living has a strict timetable, and there are not many chances for her to do things she likes. Emily is struggling to feel happy and engaged in the activities she once loved.

This situation shows how important it is to care for people in a way that is all about them.

But what does that really mean?

What is Person-centred care

Person-centred care (or person-centred approach) is a philosophy of care that moves beyond routines and procedures. Person-centred care means looking after people in a way that is not just about following rules.

It focuses on understanding and respecting the unique needs, preferences, and values of each patient or resident. It is about really getting to know and respecting what each person likes and needs.

Instead of doing the same thing for everyone, person-centred care treats each person as someone special, with their own story, things they want to achieve, and things they like.

Why is a person centred approach important

It is important to look at the advantages and reasons why the person-centred approach is necessary. Not just for the person to be cared for, but also for the persons giving it.

With the story of Emily above, we will explain what the benefits of person-centred approach and ways to care for people.

The reasons here can be adjusted to fit other work instances beyond health and social care. The explanation can be used at any workplace by anybody.

The main idea is treating every as unique. John is different from James and both will have their individual needs and what they love. That is the whole concept of personal-centred care.

12 Benefits of Personal Centred Care?

So, here is why this way of caring is good for everyone:

1. Improved Patient/Resident Satisfaction and Well-being: When care is based on what each person likes and can do, they feel happier and more in charge. For Emily, having music therapy sessions or making a playlist for her room shows that her passion matters.
2. Gets Everyone Involved: People are more likely to join in with their care when they feel listened to and understood. Letting Emily help decide things like when she wakes up or who her physiotherapist is makes her feel important and lets her make choices.
3. Helps People Connect Better: Spending time getting to know someone makes them trust you more. This helps carers understand how Emily likes to talk – maybe she wants things explained clearly, or maybe she likes a joke now and then. This makes the relationship better and more supportive.
4. More Holistic Care that Addresses Individual Needs: Person-centred care goes beyond the body. There is more to well-being than just being healthy. This way of caring knows that being healthy is not just about the body. Think about how Emily might feel if she misses her music therapy – she might feel lonely. Carers who get this might help her meet other people who also love music, so she feels less alone.
5. Saves Time and Makes Everyone Less Stressed: When care is about what each person needs, it is easier to make plans that work. Instead of doing the same for everyone, carers can focus on what really helps Emily. This makes things less stressful for her and the people looking after her.
6. Treating Everyone with Respect: Person-centred care means treating each person with respect and kindness, no matter how old they are, what is going on with them, or where they are from. For example, letting Emily choose her clothes or using the words she prefers shows that we respect her as a person.
7. Getting People Interested: When care is about what each person likes, they are more likely to want to join in. Maybe Emily would be more likely to do her physiotherapy if it involved music or moving to a song she likes.
8. Making Pain Feel Better: Studies say that caring about each person can help with pain. Understanding what makes Emily’s pain worse and what helps her feel better, like doing something fun or relaxing, means we can help her feel less pain.
9. Supporting Families and Loved Ones: Person-centred care is not just for the person getting care – it is for their families too. Keeping Emily’s family in the loop about what’s happening with her care and letting them join in when they can makes them feel like they’re part of the team and less worried.
10. Making Work Better: Carers who can care in a way that is all about each person say they like their job more and feel less tired. Seeing Emily feeling better because of what we do makes everyone want to do a good job.
11. Always Learning: Caring about each person means always watching and learning. Seeing how Emily reacts to different ways of caring helps us get better at our job.
12. A Culture of Compassion: At its core, person-centred care is about compassion and empathy. This means being kind and understanding. By caring about Emily’s happiness and letting her be herself, the care place becomes a kinder, nicer place for everyone.
    

Getting Started:

The good news is that starting to care in a way that is all about each person does not mean changing everything. Here are some easy things to do:

• Active Listening: Spend time talking to people, listening to their stories, what they like, and what they worry about.
• Shared Decision-making: Let them help decide things about their care, explain what is happening, and respect their choices.
• Do Things They Like: Try to do things they enjoy and are interested in.
• Respect What They Want: Even small things matter, like letting them pick their breakfast or clothes.

By doing these things, nurses and carers can make their work better, being kinder and happier as they look after others.

Remember, it is all about thinking about the person first, just like Emily and her love for music.

Supporting Nurses and Carers:

Helping nurses and carers switch to caring in a way that is all about each person needs support too.

Here are some ways to help them:

• Learn and Train: Teach them about how to care for each person in a way that is all about them.
• Let Them Decide: Give them the power to make choices based on what each person needs. This makes them feel more in charge and happier at work.
• Talk Openly: Encourage everyone to talk openly about what works well and what is hard. This helps everyone learn from each other and solve problems.
• Say Well Done: When caring about each person leads to good things, make sure to say so. This makes everyone feel good and reminds them why caring this way matters.

Conclusion:

Caring about each person is not just a nice idea – it really works. By thinking about each person and what they need, nurses and carers can make care better for everyone. It is about being kind, doing a good job, and feeling happy at work.

Are you ready to care this way too? Share your thoughts and experiences!