Oh, how things have changed! It wasn’t but ten years ago that I wrote a book on person-centered care and was both celebrated and laughed at by professionals in the field of senior care. I look back now and appreciate both points of view, because some of the ideas did seem a little radical. Don’t pass medications all at the same time, just wait until the resident wakes up and then pass them. Provide more options on the menu and even put a resident food committee together and let them choose the foods that your dietary manager will order. Heck, let residents prepare their own meal. See what I mean? After a decade of communities learning about and engaging in person-centered care, things are different now. It doesn’t seem so scary to allow residents around food, or to wait until they wake up in the morning to give them their pills.
(NOTE: Interested in CEUs for Nursing Home Administrators? Checkout my Nursing Home Administrator CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
Going Back to the Basics
Person-centered care will evolve and each community will develop their own brand of it. That’s a good thing. That being said, no one should lose sight of the basic concepts that are behind this philosophy. True person-centered care is anti-institutional and pro-relationship. It focuses on the person not the task. It is built on meaningful choice, dignity, respect for the lives of seniors, and the belief that each person has the right to self-determination. These are very American values. We all want to live the way we want to live and hopefully die the way we wish to die. We want independence, control over our lives, and the power to make decisions. If they don’t like bingo, take them to a casino! If they don’t like country music, give them rock-and-roll!
Culture Change and How it Impacts Person-Centered Care
Other buzzwords years ago when person-centered care was gaining ground, were “culture change”. Back then some healthcare professionals knew exactly what it meant and others weren’t exactly sure what it meant. One thing is true, culture change is a necessary step in working towards person-centered care. What about culture needs changed? The model of senior care for decades was fashioned after hospitals and most nursing homes actually felt like small hospitals. They were institutionalized, driven by rigid schedules, and were highly routinized. These are characteristics of the old model of culture that had to be changed. Things have changed quite a bit since decades ago. Many senior care communities are stunning, 5-star residences, surrounded by perfectly designed landscapes. Some look like and deliver services like a resort. While they are esthetically pleasing, in my opinion, what matters most is the kind of care taking place inside the building. Hopefully it is some kind of person-centered care.
The Bottom Line on Person-Centered Care
Older buildings, newer communities, well-trained staff, and great food. None of these really matter unless leadership is invested in deep culture change and real person-centered care. Taking a step back and examining where we came from is important because this philosophy emphasizes that person-centered care is a journey and not an end result. Indeed, there is no end but rather, constant change, improvements, and evolution of ideas to bring about the greatest quality in life for seniors in care communities.
(NOTE: Interested in CEUs for Nursing Home Administrators? Checkout my Nursing Home Administrator CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
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