Responding to vulnerability in old age: patient-centred care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Patient-centred care is a recognized principle in health policy.
• Discrepancies exist among nursing and multidisciplinary teams regarding its application for older patients.
• Understanding patient and professional perspectives on vulnerability is crucial in geriatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline three distinct models of patient-centred care for older individuals.
• To explore the concept of vulnerability in old age from both patient and professional viewpoints.
• To identify improvements for clinical practice to achieve a more patient-centred approach.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of patient-centred care models.
• Analysis of the concept of vulnerability in the context of aging.
• Exploration of differing perspectives between older patients and healthcare professionals.

Main Results:

• Three models of patient-centred care applicable to older adults are presented.
• Significant differences in the perception of vulnerability exist between older patients and healthcare professionals.
• Clinical practice can be enhanced by bridging these perspective gaps.

Conclusions:

• Implementing patient-centred care for older adults necessitates addressing differing views on vulnerability.
• A more patient-centred approach requires integrating the perspectives of older individuals into clinical practice.
• Further research into reconciling professional and patient views on vulnerability is warranted.