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.