Implementing Person -Centred Care in Community Disability and Aged Care.

Person-centred care is widely recognised as essential for delivering quality healthcare. However, the primary challenge facing community disability and aged care services is not a lack of understanding of person-centred principles but rather their effective implementation. Achieving successful implementation demands a strategic approach anchored in five critical principles:

1. Effective Leadership and a Willingness to Embrace Change

2. Staff Education and Training

3. Staff Empowerment

4. Effective Communication

5. Collaborative Care Planning and Review

This blog explores these principles in depth, provides clarity on what person-centered care entails, and highlights the numerous benefits of implementing such an approach. Clinical practice leaders, caregivers, and anyone committed to improving healthcare delivery will find valuable insights in this discussion.

Understanding Person-Centred Care

Person-centred care is an approach that prioritizes the individual’s unique needs, preferences, and values, encouraging active participation in decisions about their care. This philosophy is not new; as it is rooted in the 1978 WHO and UNICEF Alma Ata Declaration, affirming people's rights and responsibilities to participate in their healthcare planning and implementation.

Despite the longstanding recognition of its value, simply stating that clients are central to care is not sufficient. Organisations today must actively ensure that clients genuinely feel involved and valued in their support / care processes. Equally important is the need to continuously evaluate and adapt practices based on direct feedback from clients and their significant others.

The benefits of implementing Person-Centred Care:

Effective person-centred care implementation yields substantial benefits for all stakeholder, namely clients, families, healthcare providers, organisations, policymakers, and communities:

• Personalised Care which focuses on individual goals and preferences, improving client satisfaction and outcomes.

• Enhanced Service Quality, leading to better overall participant/ consumer experiences and higher service standards.

• Improved Client Engagement and Responsibility, where clients become active participants, enhancing their accountability for health and well-being.

• Tailored Care which recognises diverse needs, ensuring that care is culturally appropriate and responsive.

• Professional Fulfilment, as staff experience increased job satisfaction and confidence, thereby improving workforce morale and retention.

• Reduced Healthcare Strain: Encouraging client self-care and active engagement helps reduce unnecessary hospitalisations and interventions, easing pressure on health and social services.

Key Implementation Strategies

1. Effective Leadership and Change Management

Strong leadership is fundamental in creating a culture that fully embraces person-centred care. Leaders at all levels must champion this approach, shifting away from traditional paternalistic care models to ones emphasising collaboration, empowerment, and shared responsibility. A clear vision, continuous quality improvement, and regular evaluation based on feedback from clients, families, and staff are essential.

2. Education and Training

A knowledgeable and skilled workforce is crucial. Ongoing staff training in person-centred care principles, communication skills, and cultural competency ensures care aligns with best practices. Interprofessional learning, which fosters collaboration across healthcare disciplines, further enhances care quality and consistency.

3. Staff Empowerment

Empowering staff at every level contributes significantly to effective person-centred care. Creating an inclusive, respectful, and trusting work environment that encourages staff to voice concerns, propose solutions, and actively participate in decision-making processes. Empowered staff are more engaged, proactive, and committed to excellence in patient care.

4. Effective Communication

Clear, consistent communication among clients, caregivers, and healthcare providers is vital. Effective communication involves active listening, empathetic engagement, and facilitating shared decision-making. Keeping all stakeholders informed and involved ensures alignment and responsiveness to the client's needs and preferences.

5. Collaborative Care Planning and Regular Review

Care planning should involve clients and their families, respecting their cultural, emotional, social, and physical needs. Regular holistic reviews ensure care plans remain relevant, effective, and reflective of the client’s evolving circumstances. Collaborative assessment practices empower clients by actively involving them in decisions, affirming their autonomy, and adapting care plans to meet their ongoing needs and preferences.

Conclusion:

Person-centred care transforms healthcare delivery, placing individuals at the heart of decisions affecting their lives. Effective implementation depends upon strong leadership, continuous staff training, empowerment, communication, and collaborative planning. By adopting this holistic approach, community disability and aged care providers significantly enhance care quality, improve client outcomes, foster professional satisfaction, and create a more responsive healthcare system.

This blog is the first in a series addressing essential healthcare fundamentals:

• Person-centred care

• Rights-based approach

• Risk-based approach

• Continuous improvement

Subscribe today to stay informed and engaged with upcoming discussions and best practices in healthcare delivery

References:

• · Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. (2021). Guidance and Resources for Providers to Support the Aged Care Quality Standards. Retrieved from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/standards

• · Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2011). Patient-centred care: Improving quality and safety through partnerships with patients and consumers. ACSQHC, Sydney. Retrieved from: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/PCC_Paper_August.pdf

• · Edvardsson, D., Fetherstonhaugh, D., & Nay, R. (2010). Promoting a continuation of self and normality: Person-centred care as described by people with dementia, their family members and aged care staff. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(17-18), 2611-2618. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.03143.x

• · Kitson, A., Marshall, A., Bassett, K., & Zeitz, K. (2013). What are the core elements of patient‐centred care? A narrative review and synthesis of the literature from health policy, medicine and nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(1), 4-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06064.x

• · McCormack, B., & McCance, T. (2017). Person-Centred Practice in Nursing and Health Care: Theory and Practice (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

• World Health Organization (WHO). (1978). Declaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdf

• · Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Person-centred practice across cultures: A guide for health and community service providers. Retrieved from: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/person-centred-practice-across-cultures

Sign up for free to leave your comment and to subscribe for next blog.