Person-Centered Approach in Healthy Aging

Running head: HEALTHY AGING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
HEALTHY AGING
Introduction:
A person-centered approach is one of the crucial approach of health care sectors where
an individual is at the center of the assessment process as the expert of their own life. The object
of the assessment is to take into consideration the person’s wishes, preference n life and desired
outcome in order to promote the wellbeing of the individuals. As discussed by Flagg (2015), the
person-centered approach is crucially foraged since the approach assists to identify the
emotional, physical, psychological and social needs from the perspective of the individuals who
are at the center of the assessment. The assessments also reflect the personal values and beliefs
which can be incorporated in the aged care plan to achieve the best possible outcome (Topaz et
al. 2016). The face to face assessment has been taken into consideration to gain the perspective.
This paper will illustrate Critical reflection of discussion with the older individual, literature
review, and discussion of the intervention for the older care in following paragraphs.
Critical reflection of the discussion with older individuals:
As a nursing student of the University of Technology, Sydney I was conducting a
holistic person-centered assessment with an older person, Mr. A of 72 years old who was
initially hesitating to participate in the assessment procedures. After taking permission with the
help of the informed sheet, he was willing to participate in the conversation which helped me
gain the positive and negative aspect of the aging process from the point of that older person.
According to Piccoli et al. (2017), the core fundamentals of the person-centered approach is
treating people with dignity and respect and emphasizing the uniqueness of each person which I
incorporate in this assessment. Initially, when he hesitated to participate, I prioritized his
decision of not participating in the assessment process. After sometimes when he was feeling
comfortable he was willing to participate in the assessment. I started my conversation with a

2
HEALTHY AGING
simple question such as tell me about yourself and do you notice any changes to gain the
perspective of him in the aging process. He gave me a warm smile which melted my heart and
discussed the aging process. When I asked him about the best things of growing old, he narrated
that he was feeling wiser than before and hopeful and motivated about life which he never felt
before and he gains the wisdom that how precious the time to spend with the family and friends.
He also narrated that he had increased level of social satisfaction because of retirement which he
never had before. This discussion further helped me to gain the understanding of one key
positive aspects of aging such as that stronger bond with family members further promoting
mental wellbeing. When I asked him about what is the negative aspect of aging, his expression
made me feel bad about his aging process. He highlighted that he forget things easily which
further irritated his family members and he had difficulties the performing daily activities
because the mobility issues and he forget things which requires the help of others. He was
anxious about his habit of forgetting things frequently which further suggested that he might
have symptoms of dementia. He also said that he was scared of his impending death that he will
die alone in the hospital. The two key issues highlighted by him helped to gain the understanding
one of the crucial negative aspects of aging is dependent on other people who left them miserable
and helpless because of the mobility issue and dementia because of declined cognitive capacity.
During the assessment, he highlighted that his goal is healthy and active aging and for which he
requires professional assistance for exercise and health issues. Moreover, he does not want to
die in the hospital and he wants to die in his in peace. This assessment further helped me to gain
the wisdom that aging process not about the negative aspect rather the mixture of positive and
negative philosophy of life and to promote healthy and active aging process they require health
professionals and residential care to live best possible life.

3
HEALTHY AGING
The critical review of the literature:
As observed in this assessment two positive aspects of aging such as a stronger bond with
family members further promoting mental wellbeing and wisdom gained through the years of the
experience. Two negative aspects of aging also highlighted in this case such as dependence on
other people who left them miserable because of mobility issue and declined cognitive capacity
which can lead to the neurological disease. In the study literature study conducted exploring
different point of view of aging. In the first study, Tan et al. (2016) undertook RCT where
sixty-four older community-dwellers were taken as the sample and arbitrarily assigned for
intervention and control groups with inclusion criteria of socioeconomic status, low income,
mobility issue, and race and ethnicity to explore the viewpoint of older individuals. The findings
suggested for individuals have mobility issues and low socio demographics Salutogenesis-based
self-care is efficient health approach which to promote the wellbeing of the individuals by
incorporating family members and support active aging. This intervention further improves the
self-care, resilience such as accepting the help for recovery. The second study conducted by
Reichstad et al. (2010) undertaken similar kind of study design such as interview with 22
community-dwelling adults over age 60 which highlighted that old individuals narrated they
engage with the community as a term of personal growth since the majority of them were retired
and get times to spend with family members and friends. Therefore, engagement with friends and
family in retirement is identified as one of the key interventions of active aging. In the third
study, Cox, et al. (2015), undertaken the randomized control trail of individuals with mild
cognitive impairment in between 60 to 85 with inclusion criteria mild cognitive impairment
where peers would instruct them in physical activity. The authors suggested PA program
utilizing individual goal-setting and peer mentors would effective in promoting active aging
which further help in designing interventions by incorporating peers in active aging. On the other