siliconindia | | November 20189Not many people have an issue with this way of life; after all, it reflects our value systems - consultative de-cision-making is a thing. Whether it is about choosing the right girl for your son, picking the right doctor for treatment, or moving to a senior living home, all relatives close or distant must be consulted. This may or may not include the actual concerned person! It is not uncommon to have your elderly mother sit in the doctor's cabin and have an entire discussion about her health without asking for her opinion or helping her understand what the discus-sion is about. Patient rights go out of the window.We all take decisions for our elderly parents keeping their best interest in mind. But in this process, do we just take away some of their basic rights? Many seniors leave decisions to their children simply because decision-mak-ing can be a tiresome process. But does that imply that we stop giving them choices altogether? Or stop trying to understand what their preferences are? Till the time they are able to voice their opinions, it is fine but what happens after that?One such theory & practice addressing this, is the con-cept of Person centered care (PCC). PCC can be traced back to the philosophy of person driven psychotherapy introduced by Carl Rogers. The fundamental philosophy is that the patient is right at the centre of his/her own care (planning and decisions) and mandates that all individual preferences and personal choices are understood from the patient (or their history) and the line of treatment is cre-ated accordingly.It takes into account that no two care needs can be alike. Every single person's needs are catered to keeping in mind their personal history, current situation and future wishes. For instance, if a person is comatose or extremely sick, we still ensure that their room is prepared everyday like they wished or the curtains are drawn in the manner that they preferred. The responsibility of taking those de-cisions lies with us, but the choices remain with them.The right to have all information about our own lives or choose the way we want to age, is a fundamental right. Age or illness cannot take it away. Very often, chronic illnesses take away the focus from a person to their symp-toms and their physical condition. Dementia, which is one such illness, often robs one of their ability to think logi-cally or take decisions.How does PCC work in this case? It begins by taking a detailed account or history of their personhood instead of only focusing on the illness and physical being. To honor their wishes when they are unable to vocalize them. To ensure their dignity remains intact in the smallest things in life; to help them choose what they would like to wear, celebrate an occasion like they had always done, serve them food like they have always enjoyed, or ensure that they are dressed with the same precision that they were so particular about.PCC in India will take its own course to arrive. We are so attuned to letting others decide things for us - be it our parents, doctors, spouse and later on children. Old age for many people, is a stage of physical dependency and it is all the more reason for us to ensure that we don't let this define their rights & capabilities. Old age for many people, is a stage of physical dependency and it is all the more reason for us to ensure that we don't let this define their rights & capabilitiesNeha Sinha
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