By now, everyone in healthcare or senior care in particular, have an understanding of person-centered care. While some professionals may have their own thoughts about it, there are some key quality indicators to be aware of and to put into daily practice.
Person-Centered Care Basics
In the very least, delivering care that respects and responds to an individual’s preferences, needs and values forms the basis of person-centered care. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to form healthy relationships with not only the people they care for, but their families and others who can provide valuable information about the personalization of care to be provided. Ultimately, this level of care should lead to positive health and quality of life outcomes.
What Are Quality Indicators?
Lots of industries use metrics or measurements to guarantee certain outcomes. For instance, pizzas being delivered in 30 minutes or less or the company pays is not only good marketing and customer service, it’s a quality indicator as well. Translated into person-centered care in nursing homes and assisted living communities, quality indicators are critically needed tools used to measure performance and quality. They also help to demonstrate the extent to which improvements have led to positive outcomes.
The Need for Person-Centered Quality Indicators
Historically, quality indicators have been employed in health care for a very long time. Specific aspects of quality are captured by observation and data while taking account of various risks. While indicators have traditionally measured patient safety, access, and effectiveness, they have not taken into account the priorities and experiences of patients and family members. Such indicators are necessary to measure how person-centered nursing homes and assisted living communities actually are.
Some Important Indicators
How person-centered are the services, care and overall quality of todays’ senior care communities? Look for the following indicators to answer this question.
- Staff speak in terms of person-centered principles and practices according to their specific role
- Staff have been trained in person-centered care and can apply it in nursing, social services, activities and dining services
- Residents don’t just have choice, but instead having meaningful choice that applies to their preferences
- Residents and families report high satisfaction with quality of care and life
- The overall culture of a senior living community is person-centered
- Residents have a voice concerning their care and life
- Staff deliver care and services with respect, compassion and dignity
It’s equally as important to observe for elements of care that are not person-centered such as waking residents up before they want to wake up, or giving them a shower when they’re not ready, offer food choices they don’t like and therefore don’t eat, walking into a resident’s room without first knocking or making important decisions without the resident’s input.
Final Thoughts on Important Person-Centered Care Quality Indicators
Although person-centered care seems to have become the new gold standard in care, it’s one thing to say it is being delivered and another thing to measure it to determine if it actually is being delivered. This is why care communities should implement person-centered quality indicators. Are they really as person-centered as they think they are?