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:
“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.”
“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.
