What is Person Centred Care in Nursing?
Choosing a nursing home is one of the most important decisions you can make for yourself or a loved one. With so many approaches and options in today’s healthcare system, it can be challenging to understand what you should prioritise. Person-centred care is widely recognised among healthcare professionals as the gold standard for compassionate and effective nursing. In this blog, we will explore what person-centred care is, how it is integrated throughout nursing care and how it leads to good quality health services.
What Is Person Centred Care?
Person-centred care in nursing means putting the resident’s individual needs, personal values and preferences at the forefront of every decision and interaction. Instead of following rigid processes, nurses and healthcare professionals provide support that is responsive and tailored to the unique circumstances of each person. A person-centred approach recognises the importance of partnership between the resident, their loved ones and the care home team. Person-centred care goes beyond addressing medical needs. It recognises each resident as an individual with a history, personality and ambitions, rather than simply someone with a health condition.
The Key Principles of Person Centred Nursing Care
Effective person-centred care in nursing is guided by a set of core principles. Nurses work to build meaningful relationships with residents based on trust and respect. Each resident is involved in the care planning and is encouraged to express their own wishes and concerns at any time. There is active communication throughout, allowing residents to be part of shared decision-making around support options and their daily care.
A person-centred approach also means treating residents as individuals, not just as individuals living with a condition. Rather than following standard routines, healthcare professionals make adjustments to support personal routines, preferences and lifestyles. This approach values the resident’s experience, seeing them as the expert in their own health, which leads to better care services and a higher quality of life.
How Person Centred Care Is Delivered in Nursing
Person-centred care is woven into daily nursing practice through a collaborative approach and effective communication. As they transition, nurses take the time to get to know residents, learn about their background and understand what matters most to them in life and care. This shapes all aspects of daily life, from how care is delivered to the activities on offer and the food that is offered to residents.
If any aspect of their needs changes, each resident's care plan is updated accordingly and communicated with the appropriate individuals, including the residents themselves, their loved ones, other care home nurses and any external healthcare providers. In cases where residents require a power of attorney, this individual will be present for any decision-making and communicated with if any changes are made.
Benefits of Person Centred Care in Nursing
When residents are listened to and their feelings acknowledged, they experience greater comfort and trust in their care. This is especially important for those facing long-term conditions or cognitive challenges, where personalised emotional support can reduce anxiety and enhance overall quality of life. This type of nursing care also benefits family members and friends of residents because they can enjoy peace of mind that their loved one is being supported by a team that truly cares.
Person-centred care in a nursing home also improves the relationship between residents and nurses. Nurses and care workers develop deeper, more meaningful relationships with residents, which allows them to offer first-class care and can provide a higher sense of job satisfaction. This also leads to more coordinated healthcare delivery, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and easing transitions between services if their needs develop.
The Role of Care Plans in Person Centred Care
Unlike traditional models, where care professionals often direct support without much resident involvement, person-centred care planning is built around genuine collaboration. The process starts with conversations to identify what is most important to the resident, including their preferences, aspirations, daily routines and strengths.
A good care plan does not just record tasks and medicines. It captures details about their history, likes and dislikes, dietary preferences, family relationships, meaningful life events and more. This also isn't a static document, as it follows them throughout their entire journey and is updated when it is needed. This ensures the care they receive stays relevant and responsive to changes in health, mood, or circumstances.
Person Centred Nursing Care at The Ashton Care Home
At The Ashton Care Home, person-centred care is our foundation for every resident’s experience. Our nursing team is dedicated to building relationships based on trust, respect and true partnership. We listen carefully to our residents' wishes and tailor every aspect of our nursing care to support each of their preferences, values and unique needs. Through personalised care planning, compassionate support and strong communication, we deliver nursing care that not only meets physical health needs but also enhances emotional well-being and quality of life.
While person-centred care is a huge aspect of our nursing services, we also implement it throughout our other offerings, including residential care, dementia care, respite care and palliative care. It is important to us that our residents enjoy the highest quality of life possible in an environment they can truly call home.
When residing with us, residents have unlimited access to our in-house facilities and amenities. Residing at our Hinckley care home means spending your days doing the things you love most while we take care of the rest. Whether they want to enjoy some fresh air in the garden, have a pamper in our hair salon, take a trip in our minibus or participate in our wide range of tailored activities, there is something for everybody.
Whether you are seeking long-term support for yourself or a loved one, we are here for you every step of the way. We invite you to visit, speak with our team and discover the difference that true person-centred care makes for residents and families alike.
