The Person-Centered Care Model
My experience as a Neuropsychologist in a Vitalia and as professional at the Day Center formed in the Hoffmann Method, has meant for me the possibility of knowing firsthand the importance of Person Centered Care (ACP).
This model of care breaks with all the previous models of care for the elderly, which generalized their needs and did not take into account their preferences or personal conditions.
The Person-Centered Care Model of the Hoffmann Method consists of an attention in which the rights and dignity of the individual prevail over everything else, respecting their life project and enhancing the maximum autonomy of each one to increase their quality of life. This model is based mainly on the biography of the person (culture, relevant events ...), their personal characteristics (tastes, concerns), the type of leisure and daily activity, etc.
For all this, the professionals that work with this model, we do it in a way both inter and multidisciplinary at the time of establishing the objectives, but we also take into account what are the person's and what are their expectations, in order to work in the same direction and with the maximum motivation that we can on her part.
This is also true in the day to day of the center, since there are several activities in which you can participate. It is not a matter of imposing the task to be performed, but as professionals we must give choices, always contributing our bit about what we think would be more accurate, but respecting the choice of activity and above all, trying to make the person feel fulfilled.
An environment that encourages person-centered attention will be one that is warm, that is, one that makes them feel close to them, to their personal situation, with maximum respect for each person, regardless of their beliefs or vital perspectives.
The professional will always strengthen the capacities available to them and will celebrate the goals that they achieves in their day to day as if they were theirs. And of course, it will facilitate participation in activities and social relationships with other people.
Why is this model so important? The importance of the ACP is that the person feels valued and empowered, takes into account their needs or those that people consider important individually. This promotes a greater involvement and adherence in the treatment, and therefore, that more results are obtained that increase the quality of life of the person and their satisfaction, as well as their feeling of achievement, while we also feel proud and comforted with these results.
For all this, I believe that the success of any institution that works both to improve the quality of life of people and their maintenance, resides in the ACP, and of course the professionals who perform this care must have special qualities, as for example, the flexibility to adapt each case to personal needs; a positive communication; closeness to the person and their family members; a precise but simple language; communicative ability; empathy; assertiveness, etc.
It is the function of the institutions to implement this model of care, but in case they do not, as professionals who love our work, we have in our hands the possibility of offering a close and disinterested treatment, and above all, of smiling. The smiles change the course of the day.
Virginia Jiménez, Neuropsychologyst.
