Kippers for breakfast. A wash at lunchtime, not first thing, because that’s how it’s always been done. Ten minutes at the end of a visit for a cup of tea and a natter. None of these will ever appear on an official definition, but they’re the clearest answer we know to the question: what is person-centred care?
Person-centred care is a phrase you’ll see on almost every care provider’s website, which can make it feel like a slogan. This guide explains what it really means, what it looks like in someone’s own home, and how you can tell whether the care your loved one receives is built around them or around the clock.
Key Takeaways
- Person-centred care means care that’s shaped around the individual: their routines, preferences, history and what matters to them.
- It’s the opposite of task-and-time care, where a visit is a list of jobs to get through in a set number of minutes.
- In England, registered care providers have a legal duty to make sure people’s care is personalised to them and that they’re involved in planning it.
- At home, it shows up in small, everyday choices, like what’s for breakfast, when to have a wash and how a room is left at the end of a visit.
- Families play a big part, by sharing what their loved one enjoys, what they dislike and how they like things done.
What is person-centred care?
Person-centred care means treating someone as a whole person, not as a set of needs or a diagnosis. The care is planned with them, around their routines and wishes, rather than fitted into whatever suits the service.
It isn’t just good practice. Under the regulations the Care Quality Commission (CQC) enforces, every registered care provider in England must make sure people receive care that’s personalised to them. The CQC’s guidance on person-centred care says the person, or someone acting lawfully on their behalf, must be involved in planning, managing and reviewing their care.
At Caring with Dignity, we put it more simply: providing what a person wants, not what we think they need.
Person-centred care vs task-and-time care
The easiest way to understand person-centred care is to compare it with the alternative. Most families will recognise the difference straight away.
| Task-and-time care | Person-centred care |
The visit | A list of jobs to finish in the time slot | Built around what the person wants and needs that day |
Routines | Whatever fits the rota | The person’s own routines, kept wherever possible |
Decisions | Made for the person | Made with the person, and their family if they wish |
Carers | Whoever is free | A small team of familiar faces, matched to the person |
If jobs finish early | On to the next visit | Time for a cup of tea and a chat |
Independence | Doing things for someone because it’s quicker | Helping them do as much as they can for themselves |
Person-centred care doesn’t mean there’s no plan. It means the plan is written around the person, and it’s allowed to flex when they’re having a good day or a bad one.
Examples of person-centred care at home
These examples of person-centred care all come from the way our own carers work. None of them are grand gestures. That’s the point.
- Breakfast the way they like it. If someone fancies kippers, we make kippers. If they’ve had the same boiled egg and soldiers for forty years, that’s what they get.
- Their routine, not ours. If someone has always had their wash at lunchtime rather than first thing in the morning, that’s when we help them wash.
- Time to talk. If the jobs are done early, carers stay for a cup of tea and a chat. For some clients, we’re the main company they see that day.
- Their own kitchen, their own way. Carers use the client’s own cooker or air fryer, as long as it’s in good working order, rather than insisting on the microwave.
- The little things. Fetching a pint of milk, letting the cat out, walking the dog or picking up the paper.
- Doing with, not for. Encouraging someone to butter their own toast or choose their own clothes, even when it takes longer.
- The right person for the job. Matching carers to clients, because not everybody gets on with everyone.
For some people, the most person-centred thing of all is simply company. If that’s what your loved one is missing, our guide to the difference between befriending and companionship care explains the options.
The person-centred approach: what sits behind it
The person centred care examples above don’t happen by accident. They rest on a few habits that a good provider builds into everything it does.
- Getting to know the person first. Before care starts, we visit to find out about their life, their routines, what they enjoy and what worries them.
- A care plan written with them. The plan records how they like things done, not just what needs doing, and it’s reviewed whenever things change.
- Listening and responding. Carers check what someone would like today rather than assuming, and pass on anything that changes.
- Consistency. The same small team means carers know the person well enough to notice when something isn’t right.
- Respecting choice. If someone is able to make a decision, it’s theirs to make, even if others would choose differently.
National guidance backs this up. NICE’s guideline on home care for older people focuses on how person-centred care should be planned and delivered at home, and the CQC uses it as evidence when it inspects home care providers.
A person-centred approach is especially important for people living with dementia. Familiar faces, familiar routines and carers who know someone’s life story can help them feel calmer and more like themselves.
How families can help make care person-centred
Nobody knows your loved one like you do. The more you share, the more person-centred their care can be. It helps to tell the care team about:
- Their daily rhythm. What time they like to get up, when they eat and when they like to wind down.
- Likes and dislikes. Favourite foods, radio stations, TV programmes and topics of conversation, and anything they can’t stand.
- Their story. Where they grew up, the work they did, family, pets and the things they’re proud of.
- What matters most. Staying in their own bed, getting to church, keeping the garden tidy or seeing the grandchildren.
- What worries them. Being rushed, strangers in the house or being seen undressed by someone they don’t know.
Then keep talking. Tastes and needs change, especially after an illness or a hospital stay, and a good provider will want to know.
How to tell if care is person-centred
If your loved one already has carers, or you’re comparing providers, these signs can help you tell whether the care is truly person-centred:
- They see the same familiar carers, rather than a different face every visit.
- Their routine is respected, and they’re not got up or put to bed at times that suit the rota.
- They’re asked, not told. Carers check what they’d like rather than working through a list.
- Their care plan sounds like them. It mentions their preferences, not just their tasks.
- Visits don’t feel rushed, and there’s time for conversation.
- You’re kept in the loop, and changes are talked through with you and your loved one.
If you’re choosing a provider, our guide to choosing a home care agency explains why the same familiar carers matter so much and what to ask.
Person-centred care with Caring with Dignity
We started Caring with Dignity to offer care with a difference: old-fashioned care, led by the person rather than the clock. Whether it’s a daily visit or more regular support, our home care is planned around your loved one, their home and their routine.
In practice, that means a small team of carers matched to your loved one, a care plan written around how they like things done, and time to sit and chat. Our domiciliary care covers everything from personal care and meals to shopping, appointments and walking the dog. And if you have lasting power of attorney, the Tag Care app lets you see visit times and read the carers’ notes, so you can see for yourself how things are going.
We also act as an advocate for the people we support, speaking up for what they want and helping families when conversations get difficult. After all, there’s no place like home, and it should still feel like theirs.
Person-centred care questions families ask us
Why is person-centred care important?
Because care that fits the person tends to work better for them. People are more likely to feel settled, keep their independence and accept help when it’s offered in a way that respects who they are. It also gives families confidence that their loved one is being treated as an individual.
What are some person-centred care examples for someone living with dementia?
Keeping the same carers so faces stay familiar, sticking to well-loved routines, playing music they enjoy, using their life story to start conversations and giving simple choices, such as “the blue jumper or the green one?”, rather than open questions.
What if what Mum wants isn’t safe?
Person-centred care means finding a way to respect someone’s wishes as safely as possible, not ignoring the risks. If someone has the mental capacity to make a decision, it’s theirs to make, even if it’s one others wouldn’t. Where there are real concerns, the care team should talk them through with your loved one and, where appropriate, with you.
Is person-centred care only for older people?
No. Person-centred care applies to anyone who receives care or support, of any age. It’s the standard every registered care provider in England is expected to meet.
What does person-centred care mean for carers?
It means getting to know each person well, following their lead and having the time to do things properly. Many carers say it’s what makes the job rewarding, because they build real relationships with the people they support.
Not sure what kind of help Mum or Dad needs?
From a daily pop-in to regular companionship visits, our team can talk you through the options and arrange a free care assessment, so you stay in control of when visits happen and what they include. No pressure, just a friendly chat.
or email manager@caringwithdignity.co.uk
