Person-centered care (PCC) has been making waves throughout long-term care and assisted living communities for the past several years and has become a household word. One of the greatest benefits of PCC is that it can be used in many areas of senior living, including behavior management. In fact, there exists a natural connection between the two. PCC involves caring for the person’s biological, social, spiritual and psychological needs. People tend to react negatively when their most basic needs are not met. A PCC approach to behavior management makes the person’s needs known and the center of attention.
Why a PCC Approach to Behavior Management?
Taking a PCC approach to behavior management makes sense for many reasons. All behaviors have meaning behind them and it is up to the caregiver to determine what they mean. Behaviors are a means of communication and expression of feelings and unmet needs. Perhaps these feelings cannot be expressed in words, particularly if the individual has dementia. The behavior may be the only way of expressing one’s needs. PCC focuses on knowing the individual – his or her likes and dislikes, food preferences, time for waking up and going to bed. It takes into account the person’s history – their careers, family information and ethnicity. PCC is truly knowing the individual. What a better way to manage behaviors?
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Common Behaviors in Senior Care
When asked the question: “What are the typical behavior problems in long-term care?” what comes to mind? Yelling or screaming, wandering or eloping, agitation or aggression, or maybe sun-downing? These are behaviors for sure, but digging a little deeper, there are behavioral issues that are far more common that lead to these issues. The behaviors that I would like to focus on are boredom, helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, anxiety and depression.
A Challenge to Healthcare Professionals
I challenge you to think about these behaviors differently than you have before. If you have worked in senior care for some time, as I have, we all may have a set idea about behaviors. In other words, we think about behaviors in particular ways and have for some time. The challenge is to think about them differently. Forget what you know about behaviors. Open your mind to another way of seeing them. The way you perceive behaviors and the people you care for is important. Your thoughts influence how you provide care. Sometimes we think in stereotypical terms that are simply inaccurate.
A Better Way to Think
The people you care for are alive! PCC encourages us to see the potential that all residents have for daily growth – spiritually, socially, and psychologically. Where there is life there is potential for growth. They have the ability to experience meaning and purpose in their lives. They should be encouraged to participate in the life of the community as much as they possibly can. PCC focuses on their strengths and abilities. Behaviors are means of expression and communication. They are not necessarily “difficult” or “problematic”. We are masters at labeling things. PCC removes the labels and digs for the meaning behind the behaviors. That’s what makes it such a great framework of care for behavioral management.
Compassion
More than anything else, PCC is about compassion for human beings and realizing their full potential. Whether the resident has dementia or is fully functional, PCC focuses on the unique needs and personality of that individual and helps us seek solutions to behavioral issues. PCC helps us find meaning in behaviors and find the words for those who can no longer form them to communicate.
Final Words on Behavior Management: The Person-Centered Way
We work in a caring industry. Compassion should lead our quality of care and PCC can be our framework to accomplish it. The person is at the center of the care process. Our most important goal is to discover what the individual needs and is attempting to communicate. PCC is not rigid, but flexible. Behaviors must be met with flexibility, kindness and love. This is the person-centered way.
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