Person-centered care frameworks in gerontology lack operational clarity and uniform implementation despite widespread adoption across healthcare settings. The research identifies inherent tensions in how person-centeredness is defined and delivered, suggesting that current models may not adequately address the complex, sometimes conflicting needs of aging populations.
Key Points
- Person-centeredness lacks clear, uniform definition in clinical practice
- Inherent tensions exist between individualized care and systemic constraints
- Current frameworks insufficient for complex aging populations
Longevity Analysis
How healthcare systems interpret and respond to individual patient signals directly influences long-term health outcomes and quality of life in aging. When care models fail to coherently address the whole person—their values, preferences, and physiological needs in concert—the consequence is fragmented intervention that may optimize single systems while neglecting crucial interconnections. This analysis of person-centeredness tensions points to a foundational gap: the difference between nominal adoption of a principle and the disciplined implementation required to translate it into sustained, coordinated care that supports all aspects of aging well.
Original published by SAGE Research on Aging, by Sheryl Zimmerman, Walter Moczygemba, Philip D. Sloane, Sam Fazio151761Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA26797Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA344027Alzheimer’s Association Home Office, Chicago, IL, USA.