If a parent or loved one is beginning to need a helping hand with some of their daily tasks, your family may be considering whether an assisted living community could be the perfect answer. But one common concern of older adults is often that they’ll lose their independence.
The great news is that the right community will not only support their autonomy but also make their lives much easier.
Your loved one will appreciate living in their own home and making their decisions yet having help when they need it, such as with dressing, bathing or managing their medications.
But when searching for the best community, and to ensure the highest quality, you’ll also want to make sure the care provided is determined by your their personal preferences and desires.
What is person-centered care?
As the title implies, the care delivered is focused on the person, not a medical condition, the staff’s efficiency or the convenience of the community.
You may also hear it referred to as individualized care because it sees the whole person and not only the diagnosis or physical and cognitive needs. Yet it also goes beyond that definition.
Respect and acknowledgment of a person’s dignity is a cornerstone of this philosophy. In order to provide this style of care, all staff will need to get to know the individuals and learn about their likes and dislikes and what is important to them.
A few examples of this might include asking how a person would like to be addressed, such as by their first name, a nickname or more formally. It also respects personal choices for when to wake up, eat breakfast or go to bed.
If the resident cares to share, the staff may ask about backgrounds, careers and significant relationships. Spending time with the family is also valuable in creating more personal and interactive relationships.
The advantages of person-centered care in assisted living
Here are only a few of the benefits your family will discover:
One change that families often see is how quality of life for their loved ones improves once they move into an assisted living community. Having the daily help that they need, companionship and participating in chosen activities all can make a big difference. But being a partner in their own care greatly supports their sense of self.
As mentioned earlier, your parents will be making the same decisions just as they do now – when to wake up, when and what to eat and how to spend the day. Knowing that they are not losing independence but remain in control of their personal choices can benefit their emotional health.
With person-centered care, there’s no line of division between the care team because everyone works together to meet or exceed the needs of the resident. Staff members are empowered to make this happen.
When your parents have their preferences and lifestyles honored, they’ll soon experience the feeling of truly being at home. If someone else is directing their actions, that is not home but life in a facility. Person-centered care occurs in a community and promotes autonomy.
With person-centered care, the help and assistance your parents may need is there but the attention from the staff is how to help them live their most enriched life, not on what activities or tasks they may not be able to accomplish.
Showing consideration for your parents will also be evidenced by the staff’s language. For example, your parents will be asked how they would like to be addressed. The community is their home so they won’t be referred to as “patients” or living in a “facility.” They will be welcomed when they move in, not “admitted.”
Person-centered care also benefits the staff
Your parents and family will appreciate how person-centered care supports the staff, which in turn champions how they can help your loved ones.
A few changes that a person-centered care approach can bring includes:
Consistent staffing: Efforts are made to provide the same care team members for residents instead of rotating staff in and out. This allows the staff and your loved one to really get to know each other.
Allows better care to be provided: When staff are familiar with their residents, they are quicker to notice any negative health changes and can respond more rapidly. They also work together with the resident and family, resulting in better communication and partnerships.
Help when and where needed: There isn’t a “that’s not my job” philosophy with person-centered care. If your loved one needs help, whoever is there will provide it or retrieve who or whatever may be needed.
Ingleside at Rock Creek Assisted Living
We promote the philosophy of person-centered care and approach all of our residents with dignity and respect for their individualized preferences.
If your loved one needs help with the activities of daily living, we believe Ingleside at Rock Creek Assisted Living can be the perfect choice. We provide a helping hand to our residents but the benefits of community life go even further.
You’ll find private residences so your family members can maintain privacy and an independent lifestyle. We offer many social opportunities that provide fun, educational or artistic endeavors. The possibilities to meet and make new friends are easy and ongoing with so many activities and events to choose from.
And our compassionate team is not only here to help your loved ones with basic tasks but to encourage them to live a full and enriched life.
If you’d like more information about assisted living, please download our complimentary guide Just the Facts: Your Guide to Assisted Living. Call (202) 846-2651 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a personalized tour today.