What does person-centered care entail?

Person-centered care is fundamentally about recognizing and prioritizing the unique needs, preferences, and values of individuals receiving care. This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the person's experiences and aspirations, allowing them to be active partners in their own care. It aims to create a supportive environment where individuals feel respected and empowered to make choices regarding their own treatment and support.

By focusing on the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all model, person-centered care ensures that treatment plans are tailored specifically to each person's life circumstances, goals, and preferences. This can lead to improved satisfaction with care, better engagement in treatment, and ultimately, enhanced outcomes.

In contrast, approaches that focus solely on treatment outcomes may overlook the individual’s experience and values. Programs designed for mass treatment often lack personalization, potentially sidelining the unique circumstances of each individual. Strategies that disregard individual preferences fail to honor the core tenets of respect and empowerment central to person-centered care.