Patient and Family-Centered Care
Core concept
Patient- and family-centered care treats the patient and those the patient defines as family as partners. The patient's goals and values drive the plan of care. Family may include anyone the patient names, not only legal or biological relatives. Questions test whether you honor autonomy, include the patient in decisions when able, and support caregivers without taking over.
Practical behaviors
- Ask what matters to the patient (routines, preferences, fears).
- Offer choices within safe limits ("Would you like to wash your face first or your hands first?").
- Respect dignity: privacy, knocking, explaining before touching, using preferred name.
- Support the family's role in care and recognize caregiver strain.
Traps to watch
- Deciding what is "best" for the patient without asking.
- Assuming the loudest family member speaks for the patient.
- Forgetting that a cognitively impaired patient may still express preferences through behavior and cues.
Rule of thumb
When preferences and safety conflict, look for a safe way to honor the preference rather than simply refusing it.
Worked example: A patient wants to wear her own nightgown instead of a hospital gown. The assistant helps her into the nightgown, checking that it does not interfere with lines or skin assessment - honoring preference while maintaining safety.