Care Provider Perceptions of Person-Centeredness in Geriatric Care

Person-centeredness has been championed as a key principle of quality healthcare, but its application to the fourth aim of quality healthcare—workplace quality for the persons providing care—has received little attention. Drawing on notes and transcripts from four facilitated discussion groups with a total of 31 purposively selected participants, ranging from direct care workers to organizational leaders and academics working in aging, this special article describes insights gained about person-centeredness as it applies to the caregiving workforce. Three key issues emerged: person-centeredness varies by care setting due to differences in organization and client/patient needs; person-centeredness is not considered standard care; and person-centeredness consists of an interplay between leadership and care providers. A consistent point across all three issues is of variation, which can be addressed in part by identifying and addressing barriers at the individual and setting level to person-centered care.