What does "person-centered care" refer to in long-term care facilities?

"Person-centered care" in long-term care facilities emphasizes an approach that recognizes and respects the individual preferences, needs, and values of each resident. This method seeks to understand each person's unique life experiences and how they wish to receive care, thus ensuring that their personal choices and autonomy are prioritized.

By honoring a resident's preferences—be it related to daily routines, meal choices, or how they engage with staff and other residents—this care model fosters a more supportive and fulfilling environment. It contrasts with more rigid or standardized methods that do not take individual residents' unique identities into account. The essence of person-centered care is that it is tailored to enhance the quality of life for each individual, making them active participants in their care journey.

This philosophy challenges practices that are fixed or uniform across all residents, therefore highlighting its distinctiveness from approaches that focus solely on medical needs or that follow a group-centered strategy. A person-centered care model leads to improved satisfaction and well-being among residents, making it a keystone in quality long-term care.