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Patient-centered care implies the consideration of the individual needs, preferences, and abilities of each individual who seeks assistance. Based on this particular model, the patient and the healthcare provider both participate in the treatments and interventions as they cooperate, and both are included in the construction of the care plan. This approach is widely applied in medicine, including in care for people diagnosed with dementia.
Person Above Symptoms
An important aspect of implementing patient-centered care in a dementia unit is prioritizing the individual above the symptoms, illness, and diagnoses. As a result, the person being provided with care has a say in how the physicians and nurses treat or manage their conditions. The benefit of treating patients as individuals rather than entities that are to be cured is the dignity, consideration, and ethical relationship that patient-centered care implies. The individual diagnosed with dementia becomes more than the condition and has a say in how the medical staff handles them.
Advantages
It is certain that implementing patient-centered care in a dementia unit correlates with certain advantages both for the patient and the healthcare workers providing the services. In terms of the advantages for the individuals receiving care, this particular approach correlates with:
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Improvement of quality of life.
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Reduced agitation.
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Increased patient satisfaction.
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Reduced risk of depression.
Healthcare providers also benefit from integrating patient-centered care approaches for patients with dementia. The model is linked to multiple positive outcomes, such as:
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Improved reputation.
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High job satisfaction.
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Close patient-healthcare provider relationship.
Advantages for Dementia Patients
The improvement of quality of life is one of the benefits of the approach. This is related to the psychological and physical well-being correlating with patient-centered care. From a psychological standpoint, the patient feels understood, taken into consideration, and respected. The physical needs are also fulfilled through frequent doctor visits and communication with the providers.
Reduced agitation and mitigation of risks of depression are other pros that suggest the implementation of this model be effective. According to researchers, patient-centered care has been shown to correlate with low anxiety and reports of depression recession (Kim & Park, 2017). Last but not least, patients are more satisfied with the care they receive.
Advantages for Healthcare Providers
Physicians, nurses, and healthcare facilities also benefit from integrating a patient-centered approach in dementia units. The model facilitates improved reputation as a facility that treats patients based on individual needs and is considered more ethical and trustworthy. Moreover, healthcare providers are more satisfied with their jobs due to the positive outcomes linked to the services that they provide and the beneficial results for patients. Last but not least, patient-centered care encourages the building of close relationships with dementia patients, which ultimately leads to transparent communication and mutual understanding.
Disadvantages
While patient-centered care is beneficial and has been widely applied in multiple fields of healthcare, there are certain limitations when it comes to implementing the approach in units for dementia patients.
Some of the disadvantages include the following:
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Increased expenses.
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Compassion fatigue.
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High subjectivity is caused by empathy.
The increased expenses imply that more staff members, hours, and other resources will be needed to implement patient-centered care in the dementia unit. Moreover, it is essential to mention compassion fatigue since the close monitoring and constant interaction with patients who have different opinions, needs, and preferences may overwhelm staff members. As a result, compassion fatigue caused by the physical and emotional impact of providing care may be an outcome (Summer Meranius et al., 2020). Last but not least, a close relationship with patients with dementia increases empathy, which then may result in high subjectivity and, thus, unfairness.
References
Kim, S. K., & Park, M. (2017). Effectiveness of person-centered care on people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 12, 381397.
Summer Meranius, M., Holmström, I. K., Håkansson, J., Breitholtz, A., Moniri, F., Skogevall, S., Skoglund, K., & Rasoal, D. (2020). Paradoxes of person-centered care: A discussion paper. Nursing Open, 7(5), 13211329.
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