What is person-centred care?
Person-centred care is an approach to planning, delivering and evaluating care that puts the older person at the centre of each care decision. [1,2] It respects each person’s history, preferences, goals and values, ensuring their voice is heard. [2] The person-centred care approach builds partnerships between care providers, the person receiving care, and their families and carers, fostering trust, mutual respect, and collaboration. [3]
Care that is person-centred therefore:
- Recognises each person’s uniqueness, valuing their individuality and life experiences
- Provides care tailored to personal needs and preferences
- Includes and supports the whole family unit
- Treats older people as active partners in care, regardless of their age, mental or physical health
- Promotes open and two-way communication with the older person and the entire care team, including GPs and other visiting health professionals
- Respects the person’s dignity, privacy, and autonomy
- Demonstrates respect, compassion, and a non-judgemental approach. [4]
Why person-centred care matters in aged care
Person-centred care is a fundamental principle in Australia’s health and aged care standards. [3,5,6] Evidence shows that when providers address both treatment needs and personal preferences, care experiences improve. People report higher satisfaction with care quality and safety, while services may benefit from reduced costs and increased staff satisfaction. [7] A person-centred organisational culture helps new aged care residents feel welcomed, comfortable, and able to lead a purposeful life. [8-10]
The Australian Government has strengthened the Aged Care Quality Standards, placing greater emphasis on person-centred care, the rights of older people, and care outcomes. Standard 1 (The Individual) highlights that ‘… the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of older people is the primary consideration in the delivery of care and services.’ (Outcome 1.1) [5] Services must show how care is tailored to each individual’s needs, goals, and preferences. This includes systems to capture personal stories, cultural values, and beliefs, demonstrating care that is individualised, culturally safe, and trauma aware.
Standard 2 (The Organisation) reinforces the importance of partnering with older people in designing, delivering, and evaluating care and services. Person-centred care principles also inform Standards 3 (The Care and Services) and 7 (The Residential Community). [5]
What the evidence tells us
The research evidence suggests that person-centred care approaches offer benefits in aged care settings for the older person, staff, and providers.
Benefits to the older person
By valuing each person’s life story and habits, person-centred care fosters inclusion, dignity, self-worth, and overall wellbeing in older adults [10,11] Respecting preferences and involving individuals in decisions gives them a greater sense of control and autonomy. [8] Person-centred care recognises older adults as active partners in their care, valuing their capabilities and strengths while encouraging independence. [11] This builds self-efficacy and resilience. [10,12]
Person-centred care enhances staff attentiveness to older adults’ needs and fosters stronger interpersonal connections. Staff often share insights gained through informal conversations with residents that go on to inform care strategies, [11] reinforcing a collaborative care environment. [13,14] Residents also appreciate when staff remember their individual preferences and needs, creating a sense of warmth and familiarity. [15] Relationships and social interactions help reduce boredom and poor mental health outcomes. [9] For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, person-centred care supports maintaining connections to community, culture and country. [16]
Impact on staff
Person-centred care strengthens staff motivation and job satisfaction by adding purpose and meaning to their work. [17] This can reduce intention to leave and staff turnover and enhance workplace morale. [12] When care focuses on individuals rather than solely on tasks, it often aligns more with staff ethical values. For example, being able to build deeper connections with older people, who often express gratitude for their care, is known to help staff feel valued. [17]
Evidence suggests that person-centred care can also reduce workload and stress by fostering better team collaboration and a supportive workplace culture. Barriers arise when organisational policies do not support person-centred care. In understaffed or task-oriented settings, staff may struggle to go beyond routine care. [11] Home care staff report that increasing documentation demands take time away from client interaction. [18] This can prevent them from addressing older people’s psychosocial needs, such as that for social interaction or personal autonomy, leading to feelings of guilt or inadequacy. [15,17,18]
Organisational considerations
Implementing person-centred care can be challenging with rigid schedules and workforce shortages. [15,19] Delivering person-centred care requires not just knowledge of its principles, but also strong leadership, training and teamwork.
Staff training and communication
Staff need to develop person-centred careskills. [11] This includes communication training focused on active listening, using personal greetings, and verbal and non-verbal prompts. [15] Staff should avoid elderspeak—overly simple or condescending language—and instead engage in meaningful conversations during daily care routines. [8,15] Training should include gathering and using residents’ medical, biographical, and personal goals to strengthen connections and understanding. Memory books with biographical details, preferences, and family photos can help make staff-resident conversations more personal and meaningful. [15]
A supportive environment
Organisational policies should prioritise flexible, person-centred care to improve residents’ quality of life. [9] Creating a home-like environment that respects privacy is also important. [8] Personalising living spaces with familiar items—such as photographs, plants, or furniture—supports identity, normality, and continuity, especially for people living with dementia. [10] Comfortable communal spaces and bedrooms should encourage positive relationships between residents and staff and among residents themselves.
Building meaningful connections
Person-centred care requires staff to engage with older people beyond routine care tasks. [10] One-on-one time fosters trust and emotional connection. In residential care, meaningful engagement can have a calming influence on people living with dementia, benefiting the broader care environment. For staff, this can make the working day more fulfilling and reinforce the value of their role. [10] From early in the care partnership, families and carers can provide valuable insights into an older person’s history, preferences, and needs. Their feedback, alongside that of the older person, can guide improvements and support a culture of person-centred care awareness and practices. [15]
Care of people with dementia
As person-centred care focuses on individual needs, not diagnoses, it has the potential to improve quality of life for people living with dementia. [19,20] Familiar routines and engaging people in meaningful activities, even in altered ways, promote emotional wellbeing by reducing feelings of isolation and withdrawal. [21] Acknowledging the person’s capabilities and strengths and supporting decision-making wherever possible also promote a sense of personhood and wellbeing. [22] While person-centred care may help lift mood and reduce responsive behaviours such as agitation, the evidence remains mixed. [10,23,24]
Getting to know the person with dementia is often regarded as a key enabler of person-centred care. [19] Understanding their life story and interests before the onset of dementia can provide valuable insights into their current routines and behaviours. For instance, knowing that someone previously worked night shifts might explain why they tend to stay awake during the night, helping staff tailor care accordingly. [15]
Staff training in communication techniques, such as using clear language or visual prompts, can foster better staff and older person engagement and understanding. [24] Social interactions that are spontaneous and promote a sense of the person’s unique identity are shown to be particularly effective. [21] This includes taking the older person’s concerns seriously and providing reassurance, complimenting people on their appearance, and showing a sense of humour during care interactions. [15]
Person-centred care models such as Dementia Care Mapping, The Montessori for Dementia and Ageing model of care, Eden Alternative, Green Houses, Elder clowning, and the VIPS Practice Model have shown promising results for both the older person and staff providing the care. [11,13,19]
Cultural considerations
Recognising cultural values and traditions improves person-centred care effectiveness. This includes attention to dietary preferences, spiritual needs, and family roles in care planning. Standard 1 of the Aged Care Quality Standards highlights the importance of delivering culturally safe care. This might involve community representatives or cultural liaisons to help supports needs and build trust between older people and their care teams. [5]
Considerations for families/carers
Older people often rely on family or friends for care before a permanent move into residential care. This care is likely to continue following the transition and can help both resident and family adjust to the new situation. Families and friends can provide valuable information to staff, supporting tailored care. However, staff-family communication should never overshadow the voice of the resident. [10] Regular updates to families and carers can ease any concerns over the older person and their care and encourage ongoing involvement in that care. [19,25]
Considerations for home care
In home care, person-centred care helps individuals achieve goals that align with their choices and interests. [23] This involves flexible care plans, directed by the care recipient, that help them maintain autonomy while providing necessary support. Regular assessments to adapt these plans to changing needs are essential, as highlighted in Standard 3 (The Care and Services) of the Aged Care Quality Standards. [5]
Home care workers play a critical role in delivering person-centred care but may require specific training to develop relevant skills. This includes creating care plans that reflect individual needs, cultural preferences, and any past trauma. They also need to build community connection, support decision-making, recognise signs of neglect or abuse, and maintain respectful relationships with older people. Regularly reviewing care plans with individuals helps ensure their needs continue to be met as circumstances change. [23]
Training can also help home care staff identify and support stressed informal carers. Strategies include recognising signs of caregiver strain and guiding people to relevant psychosocial support resources. [26]
Page created 03 April 2025