Donation
Person-centered care is a term that has been used in health care for many years. Its meaning is elusive and putting it into practice is challenging. Twenty years ago I asked the CEO of a nursing home if their residents had choices on what food they ate and what time they ate. His response indicated that he thought I was crazy to even ask. He said, "Are you out of your mind? How could we do that? We have to have a set menu and everyone has to eat when they are served their meal. It would be impossible to let the residents choose what they wanted!"
And now, all these years later, person-centered care is a priority for many families when they are looking for a continuous care community for themselves or a nursing home for a loved one. The age-friendly movement by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and plans for age-friendly communities developed by many states have increased the public's awareness and desire for person-centered care. The IHI 4Ms Framework for developing plans of care for older adults starts with "What Matters". This captures what really is important to people who live in long-term care but are individuals with their own preferences that need to be respected. As people age and move into long-term care communities, they should not be forced to give up their individuality and conform to the "rules" of a particular nursing home or long-term community.
Residents in long-term care communities are individuals with rich experiences and life journeys filled with stories that make them the person they have become. Care that respects their personhood and celebrates their individuality will help to create long-term care communities that are meaningful to the people who live there and to the people who work there.
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