Understanding Person-Centred Care:

Putting People at the Heart of Care

At Advance Careprovider, we believe that good care is about more than completing daily tasks. It is about understanding the person behind the care needs, listening to what matters to them, and supporting them to live with dignity, choice and independence.

What is Person-Centred Care?

Person-centred care means putting the individual at the centre of decisions about their care and support. Every person is different, with their own preferences, routines, values, experiences and goals.

For example, two people may require help with personal care, but they may prefer to receive that support in completely different ways. One person may prefer an early morning routine, while another may prefer to have more time before getting out of bed.

Person-centred care means taking the time to understand these differences and respecting them.

Why Does Person-Centred Care Matter?

Receiving care can sometimes make people feel that they have lost some control over their daily lives. Good care should do the opposite.

Person-centred support helps people to:

• Maintain their dignity and privacy.

• Make choices about their daily routines.

• Remain as independent as possible.

• Feel listened to and respected.

• Maintain relationships and important activities.

• Feel safe and comfortable in their own home.

• Have greater confidence and control over their care.

  
  

Listening to the Person

One of the simplest but most important aspects of good care is listening.

A service user should feel that their views matter. Carers should take time to listen to concerns, preferences and feedback rather than simply focusing on completing a list of tasks.

Sometimes a person's communication may change because of illness, disability, dementia or other circumstances. Carers may need to adapt how they communicate, use simple language, allow additional time or use other appropriate communication methods.

Promoting Independence

Supporting someone does not mean doing everything for them.

Where it is safe and appropriate, carers should encourage people to do what they can for themselves. This might include choosing their clothes, preparing part of a meal, taking part in personal care or deciding how they would like to spend their day.

Promoting independence can help maintain confidence, skills and a sense of control.

Respecting Choice and Risk

People have the right to make choices about their lives, including choices that may involve some level of risk.

Good care involves balancing safety with independence. Carers should follow the person's care plan and risk assessments, support informed decision-making and report changes or concerns appropriately.

The aim should not always be to remove every possible risk, but to manage risks appropriately while enabling people to enjoy meaningful activities and maintain their independence.

The Importance of Dignity

Dignity should be maintained during every aspect of care, particularly when supporting someone with personal or intimate care.

This includes:

• Providing privacy.

• Explaining what you are doing.

• Asking for consent.

• Respecting personal preferences.

• Using appropriate language.

• Keeping personal information confidential.

• Treating every person with kindness and respect.

Small actions can make a significant difference to how a person feels about the care they receive.

Working Together

Person-centred care works best when service users, families, carers and professionals communicate effectively.

Care needs can change over time. Regular reviews, feedback and communication help ensure that care plans remain relevant and reflect the person's current needs and wishes.

At Advance Careprovider, we encourage service users and their families to share feedback with us. Feedback helps us understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.

Our Commitment

At Advance Careprovider, our commitment is to provide safe, compassionate and person-centred care that respects each individual's choices, dignity and independence.

We understand that every person is unique. That is why we aim to provide care that is not simply done to someone, but care that is planned with them and delivered around what matters most to them.

A simple question we should always ask is:

“What matters to you?”

Because when we understand what matters to a person, we can provide care that truly makes a difference.

Advance Careprovider Limited

Compassionate Care. Trusted Support. Better Lives.