Person-Centered Care & Person-Directed Care

Person-Centered Care is an approach that frames care through the eyes of the person receiving that care. With Person-Centered Care, choices and actions are based entirely on the unique needs, desires, goals, and preferences of the person. In a person-centered organization, individual preferences or past patterns form the basis of decision making about routines and daily activities. Person-Centered Care is accomplished by knowing each person well, developing close and continuous relationships, ensuring meaningful and spontaneous activity, and ultimately putting the person before the task. In a person-centered organization, staff begin to organize routines to accommodate individual preferences, whether they are articulated or simply observed.

Person-Directed Care embraces the same ideas and takes them one step further. With Person-Directed Care, the goal is for the Elders to DIRECT their own lives.With Person-Directed Care, all decisions belong in the hands of the person receiving the care, or, at the very least, in the hands of those closest to him or her. In a person-directed organization, staff organize schedules and assignments to reflect the preferences of the Elders. This improves the quality of life for all Elder and staff care partners. With Person-Directed Care, staff satisfaction increases along with all the benefits of meaningful and fulfilling relationships for everyone involved. Person-Directed Care improves quality of life and well-being for the Elders and everyone on the care partner teams.

Think about how you and your organization can put the Elders in the driver’s seat by making their own decisions and DIRECTING their daily lives.