The Implementation of a Model of Person-Centred Practice In Older ...

The implementation of a model of person-centred practice in older person settings
THE SOUTH EAST AREA
Participating Sites
• St Columba’s Hospital, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny - 142 bedded Care of the Older
Persons Facility.
• Sacred Heart Hospital, Carlow - 138 bedded Care of the Older Persons Facility
(101 beds Sacred Heart and 37 beds Bethany House). In 2009 Bethany House
was closed and the residents were relocated to facilities of their choice.
• St John’s Hospital, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford - 169 bedded community hospital
based over 3 sites. The old hospital building (former workhouse) has two wards
with 37 beds, the new building has 108 beds (20 of which are rehabilitation beds
and 1 respite bed) and St John’s Ward which is located in Ely Hospital has 24
beds (1 respite).
Baseline findings and action plans arising from baseline findings
The programme commenced in September 2007 with an awareness campaign in
each participating site with an open invitation to attend extended to all staff,
residents/patients and their families. Following on from these sessions a Person-
Centred Care Practice Development Working Group was established. The timing of
this National Programme was significant as it provided a “road map” for all involved in
working with older people in conjunction with the proposed National Quality
Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (HIQA Standards)
to transform residential facilities into home like environments where the holistic needs
of each person would take precedence. ‘Buy in’ into the programme was immediate
as it provided an opportunity for all to benefit from living and working in an
environment that promotes and practices a person-centred culture. Through a series
of planned/agreed programmes and work place learning activities, the participants
continued to develop their skills and knowledge and build confidence to enhance the
experiences of care that older people received through the implementation of a
model of person-centred practice. The programme actively supported the
participants to challenge custom and practice/assumptions, beliefs and values that
fell short of what patients and their families expected from care providers.
The programme days were well attended demonstrating the participants’ commitment
to increase effectiveness in person-centred care through enabling others to transform
the culture and context of care. Nurse Management supported the programme by
65