Spanish validation of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT)

An aging population in developed countries has caused a significant increase in the need for professional care for dependent elderly people, as well as a great interest in everything related to the quality of care offered by elderly care services (Zubritsky et al., 2013). Within these services, traditional care homes are the subject of criticism owing to their rigid organization, the uniformity of care practices and the lack of personalized care (Koren, 2010).

All of which makes it difficult for the elderly living in those homes to make their own decisions, to take control of their day to day environment, or to live according to their own values, preferences, and desires. The new Person-centered Care (PCC) approach arose from this context, it aims to integrate evidence-based practice with authentic personalization of care and support so that people can retain control over their day to day lives (De Silva, 2014; Martinez, 2013).

Although the roots of PCC can be traced to Rogers (1961), the approach has surfaced in various areas and services such as in the care of people with dementia (Brooker, 2007; Kitwood, 1997). There is no accepted, unified, universal definition of the PCC approach, on the contrary, most authors highlight its complexity and multidimensionality (McCormack, 2004; Nolan, Davies, Brown, Keady, & Nolan, 2004).

Among the most cited components are, first, those which relate directly to personalized care; the recognition that each person is unique and valued (Brooker, 2007; White, Newton-Curtis, & Lyons, 2008), understanding the life story and lifestyle of each person being cared for (Chappell, Reid, & Gish, 2007; Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, Nay, & Gibson, 2010; White et al., 2008), the promotion of personal autonomy (Chappell et al., 2007; Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, et al., 2010; White et al., 2008), and the organization of day to day life with meaning and sense for the subject (Sancho & Yanguas, 2014).

In addition, dimensions related to the support environment have also been identified, such as individualized care (Brooker, 2007; Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, et al., 2010), the design of the physical space (Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, et al., 2010; White et al., 2008) and other organizational variables (Chappell et al., 2007; Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, et al., 2010; White et al., 2008).