Introduction
Person-centred care (PCC) is a transformative approach that prioritizes the unique needs and preferences of individuals, particularly in dementia care. The recent scoping review titled "How to implement person-centred care and support for dementia in outpatient and home/community settings" provides valuable insights into implementing PCC effectively. This blog explores key findings from the review and offers guidance for practitioners looking to enhance their skills in delivering PCC for dementia patients.
Understanding Person-Centred Care
PCC involves a collaborative partnership between healthcare providers, patients, and their families. It emphasizes tailoring care to individual clinical needs, life circumstances, and personal preferences. The review identified several domains crucial to PCC, including fostering relationships, exchanging information, addressing emotions, managing uncertainty, sharing decisions, and enabling self-management.
Key Findings from the Review
The review synthesized findings from 22 studies, highlighting the importance of PCC in dementia care. Here are some key insights:
- Holistic Approach: PCC is recognized as a holistic approach that involves partnership with healthcare workers, patients, and carers. It ensures dignity and respect while recognizing the person's life and abilities.
- Barriers to PCC: Barriers exist at multiple levels, including patient/carer (e.g., family conflict), healthcare worker (e.g., lack of knowledge), and organizational (e.g., resource constraints).
- Educational Strategies: In-person educational meetings for healthcare workers have shown beneficial outcomes, such as improved engagement and use of PCC approaches.
- Gender Considerations: The review noted a lack of tailored PCC approaches for women, despite their majority among dementia patients and carers.
Implementing PCC in Practice
For practitioners aiming to implement PCC, the review provides a framework that can guide the planning and evaluation of dementia services. Here are some actionable steps:
- Enhance Training: Participate in interdisciplinary educational programs to improve knowledge and skills in PCC.
- Foster Partnerships: Work closely with patients and their families to tailor care plans to individual needs and preferences.
- Address Barriers: Identify and address barriers at the patient, healthcare worker, and organizational levels to facilitate effective PCC implementation.
- Focus on Women: Develop strategies to tailor PCC for women, considering their unique needs and preferences.
Encouraging Further Research
While the review provides a solid foundation, further research is essential to refine the PCC framework and explore strategies for its implementation. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of knowledge by conducting studies that evaluate PCC approaches and address gaps identified in the review.
Conclusion
Implementing person-centred care for dementia patients is a crucial step toward improving their quality of life. By embracing the insights from the review and actively participating in ongoing research, practitioners can enhance their skills and contribute to the advancement of PCC in dementia care.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: How to implement person-centred care and support for dementia in outpatient and home/community settings: Scoping review.
