The way we deliver care matters more than ever. At Jothno Care we want to be sure to focus on a person-first approach rather than on a task-focused approach. The person behind the label of “patient” or “client” matters. We endeavour to find out what it is that they need and want from everyday life. That’s what person-centred care means and it has lots of benefits for the care user and the family, changing their lives for the better.
What is person-centred care?
Person-centred care puts the individual at the heart of every decision we make about their care. We look at their needs, their preferences and their values. This makes person-centred care very different from a generic home care service that focuses on how many meals they’ll make or how many hours they’ll deliver.
Person-centred care originated in the 1950s with Carl Rogers who pioneered client-centred psychology. He emphasised the importance of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship, allowing the client to lead and achieve personal growth (The Health Foundation).
We do the same with our home care clients, fostering a relationship with them and their families and centring on their perspective. This follows our core values of dignity, choice, independence and respect.
The key principles of person-centred care are:
- Treating each person as a unique individual, not just a “patient” or “service user”
- Listening to and communicating with not only the person, but also their family
- Tailoring care that is shaped by the person’s voice and values
- Shared decision making: involving the whole family in the care planning
- Flexibility and adaptability: adjusting our services to suit changing needs
- Promoting independence and dignity whenever possible while at the same time ensuring safety
Why person-centred care matters
We have found that person-centred care improves wellbeing, confidence and the quality of life for the people who use our services. This matters because they want to feel in control of as much as they can in their lives and their homes.
Families appreciate the effort we go to to reassure them that their loved ones are in safe hands. This brings huge relief to a family during a time when it can be very stressful to provide support while living busy, modern lives.
For the carers who have been looking after someone who needs help to stay at home, person-centred care can be a life saver. It allows them to relax and take time off knowing that the person will be cared for well.
Healthcare professionals look for providers of person-centred care so that they know their patients will be fully supported after leaving hospital, or continuing to live independently at home.
Person-centred care is central to compassionate communities that are home to many individuals who live alone and need a little support. The biggest advantage to home care is that it allows the person to continue to live among friends and neighbours they have known for a long time.
Examples of person-centred care in practice
Our care at home plans offer a wealth of choice for the person who is being supported. This can range from consideration of dietary requirements to awareness of cultural diversity and their impact on daily routines.
In dementia care, person-centred plans make use of personal histories. These can calm an agitated patient or connect them with the present or the past. Each person is unique and that is no different when they have been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
For one of our clients we offered support at home and the family noticed that she recovered her independence and joy in daily life that had been missing for years.
Person-centred care can take time and effort. We train all our carers to make the extra effort as we can see the impact it has on the person we are caring for. It does require planning on our part but we make it an essential part of our tailored care plans.
We also encourage caregivers and their families to practice active listening. By listening, they can pick up hints on what the person wants and needs. Presenting simple choices, for example between meal A and meal B encourages independence and gives a feeling of choice.
At Jothno Care & Support, we aim to match our carers with our service users. This helps us to meet unique needs like cultural and religious requirements; from language to traditions. We are specialists in providing support to South Asian elders across London but we have also worked with many other nationalities. Book an appointment to talk with our care team at head office to discuss your individual requirements.
Why person-centred care matters
Person-centred care is the future of compassionate healthcare and support.
It provides the individual with dignity and choice in later life. They feel seen and able to achieve what they want each day. This improves self esteem and increases the feeling of independence.
For the families of people who are receiving support, person-centred care provides an opportunity to have a say in the care of their loved ones. It reassures them that the care agency will look after their relatives with care and attention.
For healthcare professionals, person-centred care provides an alternative option when someone is not safe to live at home alone any longer or needs temporary care so that they can leave formal healthcare, e.g. hospital, clinic, etc.
Person-centred care is centred around the person who needs help. It ensures that they get the help that they need. Not only that, it ensures that they get the help they want. It is tailored to the individual person who needs it.
As each person is unique, each care plan is unique too. No two care plans are the same. This is the whole ethos behind person-centred care. The same standard care plan cannot meet the needs of every individual who needs it.
By looking after the person behind the “client” or “service user” or “patient” we can provide care that is unique and individual and customised to bring the greatest benefit.