Providing care that truly honours a loved one’s identity is the cornerstone of compassionate hospice and end-of-life support, yet it can often feel overwhelming to implement amidst the complexities of a terminal diagnosis. In this guide, I share practical, expert-led examples of person centred care to help you move beyond clinical tasks and focus on what truly matters to those in your care. By exploring these evidence-based approaches, you will gain the confidence to advocate for your loved one’s dignity and ensure their personal wishes remain at the heart of every decision.
Examples of person centred care
What is patient-centered care?
Patient-centered care is a medical philosophy that prioritizes the specific needs, personal values, and individual preferences of the patient. Key components include:
- Honoring the patient, their relatives, and their caregivers.
- Proactively addressing the specific requirements and desires of the patient.
The advantages of person-centered care
The primary benefit of this approach is increased flexibility. Rather than adhering to rigid institutional structures, people are empowered to customize their care experience to align with their personal lifestyles and comforts.
Practical illustrations of person-centered support
Implementing a person-centered model involves shifting focus toward autonomy. Practical applications include:
- Providing viable options during mealtimes.
- Collaboratively choosing daily attire.
- Adjusting sleep schedules and waking times.
- Customizing essential daily routines, such as mobility assistance and hygiene needs.
- Ensuring that when a patient is capable of communicating, their voice remains the priority in decision-making.
- Creating customized care blueprints written from the patient’s own perspective.
- Engaging family members directly in lifestyle and medical planning.
Resources for implementing this framework
To better understand how this methodology functions in various professional environments, consider the following areas of study:
- Clinical Implementation: Utilizing collaborative workflows to enhance overall health outcomes.
- National Guidelines: Establishing systems that prioritize mutual trust and respect between healthcare providers and patients.
- Workforce Strategy: Adopting core organizational principles that support patient-centered operations.
The six pillars of person-centered care
This approach is built upon six foundational principles, the most essential being:
- Person-centered support: Care must be personalized, well-coordinated, and focus on empowering the individual.
Practical Examples of person centred care and the person centred approach
Person centred care is the practice of tailoring support to the unique preferences, history, and values of the individual rather than simply following a standardised medical protocol. In hospice settings, this means moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach to ensure that every patient feels seen, heard, and respected as an individual with a life story that extends far beyond their current diagnosis. When we look for real-world examples of person centred care, we are essentially looking for ways to humanise the clinical environment by focusing on the biography of the patient rather than just their pathology.
When we apply this approach, we prioritize a person’s comfort and emotional well-being by making small but meaningful adjustments to their environment and routine. Have you ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders while trying to manage these daily needs? In my experience, taking small, scheduled breaks is essential for your own well-being, as you cannot pour from an empty cup. Sustaining your own health is a prerequisite for providing high-quality, long-term support to a person nearing the end of their life.
Principles of person centred care and person-centred values in health
The core of the four principles of person centred care is built upon dignity, compassion, respect, and personalised care, as outlined in a 2014 guide by The Health Foundation. By anchoring our care in these pillars, we create a supportive environment where patients feel their humanity is prioritised, even when their physical health is declining. These principles act as a compass for families and professional staff alike, ensuring that every interaction is grounded in the fundamental respect due to an individual facing their final chapter.
Integrating person-centred values into daily care and support
To deliver truly holistic support, we must actively integrate eight essential values into our daily practice: individuality, choice, independence, dignity, respect, rights, privacy, and partnership. These values are the bedrock of the Person-centred Approaches framework, developed in partnership with Skills for Health and Skills for Care. This framework applies across health, social care, housing, and local authorities, serving as an underpinning for core skills in dementia, learning disabilities, mental health, and end-of-life care. Adhering to these values ensures that the patient remains the primary stakeholder in their care journey, rather than becoming a passive recipient of institutional processes.
How to personalise care and support plans
Nursing and residential care teams can transform the quality of life for a person with dementia or terminal illness by actively involving them in the creation of their own bespoke care plan. When a patient is given a voice in how their care is delivered, it reduces anxiety and fosters a sense of agency that is often lost in clinical environments. This shift is not merely about comfort; it is about acknowledging that the person’s identity remains intact and valid throughout the progression of their illness.
Practical implementation in nursing practice involves simple, transformative actions such as writing wellness plans in the first person. Consider the following table when planning daily care adjustments to better reflect the unique needs of the person you are supporting:
| Clinical Task | Person-Centred Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Hygiene routine | Allowing choice of time, e.g., “I prefer to shower in the morning.” |
| Meal service | Offering genuine menu choices based on lifelong preferences. |
| Daily schedule | Adjusting sleep/wake times to match the patient’s lifestyle. |
| Social inclusion | Inviting family to participate in daily activities. |
Implementing the person-centred approach to care in clinical environments
Implementing person centred care in hospitals requires a shift toward collaborative systems, such as conducting shift handovers at the bedside to ensure the patient is an active participant in their own care conversation. This approach is supported by official guidance from NHS England and the Care Quality Commission, which emphasises the need for evaluating patient experience and addressing holistic needs during every stage of a hospital stay. By involving the patient in the conversation, we reduce the fear and uncertainty that often accompany medical interventions, transforming the hospital experience from a series of clinical events into a supportive, transparent process.
To ensure you are fully prepared for clinical interactions and to maintain the integrity of the care and support plans, use this checklist for hospital visits:
- Bring a physical copy of the patient’s advance care plan to every meeting.
- Keep an emergency contact list accessible for all nursing staff.
- Prepare a concise list of “what matters” to the patient, such as specific comfort preferences or communication needs.
- Request to be present during bedside handovers to ensure the patient’s voice is heard.
- Document any changes in the patient’s preferences as their condition evolves.
The benefits of person centred care and community support
The primary benefit of person centred care is a measurable improvement in both physical and psychological health, a finding supported by A. Coulter’s 2016 research, which has been cited 522 times. When we prioritise the individual’s needs, we see lower hospital readmission rates, a reduced need for diagnostic tests, and a more efficient allocation of resources within the health sector. This research underscores that high-quality care is not just about clinical precision but about the integration of the patient’s personal values into the medical narrative.
Important: Prioritising emotional support and patient preferences is not just a “nice to have”—it is a clinically proven method to reduce patient distress and improve overall recovery outcomes. For providers, integrating tools like the Creyos Cognitive Assessment helps refine resource allocation, potentially leading to increased practice revenue while simultaneously elevating the quality of care. Both the NHS England Person-Centred Care Guidelines and The Health Foundation’s PCC Guide provide the necessary framework for applying these principles across the UK health and social care sectors, ensuring that the shift toward personalisation is both sustainable and clinically effective.
Overcoming barriers to support person-centred care
Overcoming the barrier of rigid, task-based healthcare environments requires a cultural shift, which can be initiated by asking the simple question, “What matters to you?” at the start of every patient interaction. This question helps break the cycle of task-focused care, especially when staff lack formal training in communication, shared decision-making, and addressing psycho-social needs. Systemic hurdles, such as fee-for-service payment models, often limit the time available for building patient relationships; however, teams can mitigate this by implementing regular multidisciplinary huddles that include GPs, nurses, therapists, and social workers. Practitioners should regularly consult the “Person-centred Care Made Simple” guide published by The Health Foundation to navigate these challenges effectively.
- Request a formal multidisciplinary meeting with the care team to discuss the patient’s holistic needs.
- Ask specifically how the current care plan incorporates the patient’s personal history and past achievements.
- Consult the “Person-centred Care Made Simple” guide to understand your legal and professional rights to request changes.
- Maintain a log of the patient’s preferences to ensure consistency across different staff shifts.
- Seek out local community support groups to broaden the network of care and emotional resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the definition of person-centred care differ from traditional medical models?
The definition of person-centred care centres on treating the individual as a partner in their own health journey rather than a subject of clinical observation. Traditional models focus on disease management, whereas this approach integrates the patient’s personal values and psycho-social needs into every clinical decision.
What is the most effective way to tailor a care plan for a person with dementia?
To tailor a care plan effectively, focus on the individual’s lifelong habits and current remaining strengths rather than just their cognitive deficits. Using tools like memory boxes or involving the patient in daily decision-making helps maintain their sense of identity and reduces confusion.
Are there specific benefits of person centred care for family caregivers?
Yes, adopting these principles significantly reduces caregiver burnout by fostering better communication and clearer expectations with professional staff. When the care is personalised to the patient’s needs, family members often feel more confident and less stressed about the quality of support their loved one is receiving.
How can I ensure my voice is heard when discussing health and social care options?
Prepare a written summary of the patient’s “what matters” list and request a dedicated time for a care review meeting with the multidisciplinary team. Coming prepared with specific questions about how the care plan aligns with the patient’s personal preferences ensures your advocacy is professional and effective.
Remember: Navigating the grief process and end-of-life care is a unique journey, so always initiate every interaction by asking “What matters to you?” to ensure your support remains grounded in the patient’s own values. Giving yourself permission to feel while seeking palliative care support is the first step toward sustainable, compassionate caregiving.
