Posted on May 25, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia

PERSON CENTERED CARE CAN BE PROVIDED AT HOME BY THE FAMILY, BY A PAID CAREGIVER OR IN A NURSING HOME

Whether you are a family member giving direct personal care, a private caregiver in the home, or a caregiver in a Nursing Home you can provide “Person Centered Care.” Person centered only means that you have taken the time to really get to know the person you care for.

Being a “Person Centered Caregiver” means the caregiver knows:

• Does the person they care for like to take a bath or a shower – or maybe for the last 10 years they couldn’t walk up the stairs to the bathroom with a tub – so they have been taking sponge baths at the bathroom sink ever since, and that is what they are comfortable with now.
• Is the person they care for an early rise or do they like to sleep in? I knew a man that was so hard to get going in the morning, till the family said their Dad always had a cup of coffee in the morning before he got out of bed. Adding the cup of coffee in bed to his routine made all the difference to him.
• Does the person you care for like to take a nap in the afternoon, if so for how long and where – in bed or on the couch? Makes a difference.
• If the person you care for is a man – does he like to shave with a straight razor or electric?
• What kind of music does the person like?
• What kind of personal products do they like to use? I know my mother always used LUX soap, most people don’t even know that soap – but for my Mom LUX is important. So whether it is soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream – whatever the product- person centered care means knowing the favorite product and using that person’s favorite product.
• Is the person they care for a sports enthusiast? If so what sports, what is their favorite team. If they are one of those die hard Cubs fans, does the caregiver make sure when the Cubs are playing that the TV is on?

All you need to provide person centered care, is to care enough to get it right!

Virginia Garberding, R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com