How Person-Centered Care is Changing Senior Living Communities

Smiling Nurse Assisting Senior Man

In recent years, person-centered care has become a movement transforming senior living communities everywhere. Person-centered care, also known as the culture change model or resident-centered care, is changing the long-term care medical model of the past into one that guides and nurtures the individual, offering a holistic approach to caregiving. It focuses on not only the quality of the care provided to residents, but also to ensuring the highest quality of life possible to improve life expectancy.

Person-centered care is designed to give residents control over their daily lives, allowing them to make their own decisions and set their own routines. All levels of staff are involved in the care process, as well as the residents’ families and friends. The goal is to provide a familiar, comfortable and private environment for residents while focusing on what they can do, rather than what they cannot do.

Benefits of the Culture Change Model

The culture change model recognizes that the relationship between the caregiver and the resident is key to providing the best quality care. Rather than focusing solely on completing daily tasks, the staff learns to work together with each other and residents to build these relationships and provide person-centered care.

Some of the benefits of implementing the culture change model in senior living communities include:

Respects the residents. Focusing on the residents’ needs and abilities while allowing them to make their own decisions provides a sense of control of the lives, making them feel respected and important.

Improves mental health and reduces boredom. Person-centered care provides daily tasks and activities that help reduce the boredom and helplessness some residents may experience. Discovering the activities they enjoy, whether it’s gardening, painting, or listening to favorite songs, and making those activities a daily routine provides a sense of purpose. Plus, taking part in these stimulating experiences with others can also help improve mental health and ward off depression or loneliness.

Creates a supportive environment. Person-centered care puts people first- both the caregivers and the residents- over the completion of tasks. By focusing on the personalized needs of residents and the staff, a supportive environment is created as relationships become the heart of care.

Promotes team-building among staff. Staff members of all levels work together with designated groups of residents, rather than rotating daily assignments. As the team builds relationships with each other and truly enjoy their jobs, employee turnover decreases.

Increases happiness and life expectancy. Residents feel increased satisfaction in their daily lives when the culture change model is implemented. Feeling happier overall, while receiving a high level of individualized care, can help increase longevity, as residents truly feel they still have a purpose in life.

More and more senior living communities today are moving to person-centered care, American Senior Communities included. Our staff receives special training utilizing Teepa Snow’s GEMS® and Positive Approach® to person-centered dementia care in our Auguste’s Cottage, proving our commitment to providing the best quality of care to our residents.

For more information about American Senior Communities, please visit www.ASCSeniorCare.com.

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Disclaimer: The statements on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical advice.

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