So now we have an idea of what a person-centred approach is but why have it? Read on …
PCC recognises that the PwD is a PERSON first and should not be defined by the dementia. In an interview with The Health Foundation, Andrew Philips was asked what were the benefits of person-centred care for health organisations and patients and he made the following statements:
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“Traditional approaches to care can be experienced as paternalistic i.e. staff ‘mind’ the patients and as a result they don’t have much of a say in what happens to them. The approach gives PwD a choice and involvement in everything that happens around them. This gives them choice, control and satisfaction in as far as their abilities can meet these needs.”
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“Care that is not person-centred is organised in such a way that it suits the staff more than the PwD. The focus becomes the routine, the service/institution and the PwD becomes less important.”
“Non-person centred approaches disempower the PwD leaving them to become de-personalised and living in a rigid lifestyle. A lack of compassion and failure to see the PwD as an individual with unique needs.”
The health service then becomes inefficient with little benefits for the PwD.
Have a look at this video (3mins) showing how the staff of a nursing home took a very person-centred approach to improving Henry’s quality of life.
Now we know why so let’s have a look at some of the core concepts.