Improving person-centred elderly care- A quality improvement project

Effective communication is essential in delivering quality, patient-centred care, yet older inpatients frequently encounter barriers arising from sensory impairment, cognitive decline, and complex co-morbidities1. Evidence suggests inadequate communication contributes to reduced patient satisfaction, delayed discharges and avoidable readmissions2,3. Within local elderly care wards, observations indicated patients often lacked understanding of their diagnoses and were not engaged in decision-making. This project sought to evaluate existing communication practices during ward rounds and implement an intervention designed to promote person-centred care with patients aged >75. 

A baseline survey was administered to inpatients across elderly care wards with 25 responses. The questionnaire explored patients’ perceptions on communication and understanding of their condition. Initial results demonstrated 56% of respondents did not understand their diagnosis, only 36% reported feeling comfortable asking questions and 28% agreed there was sufficient time for discussion. Qualitative feedback highlighted overall good treatment but reinforced the lack of clear explanations and need for regular family updates.  

To address these findings, a patient-facing “prompt poster” was introduced to encourage active participation and empower patients. This was supported by staff discussions at multidisciplinary meetings to raise awareness of the intervention and implement a culture of patient-centred communication. 

Post-intervention data collection indicated early improvements with 95% of patients understanding their current diagnosis and improved communication on ward rounds evident with 74% feeling confident to ask questions and 84% agreeing adequate time was available. Qualitative comments also emphasised the difference noticed post intervention.  

This project demonstrates that a low-cost, simple intervention can positively influence communication outcomes among elderly inpatients. Sustained improvement will require ongoing reinforcement, further cycles of evaluation, and potentially the incorporation of structured staff training.