May 8, 2023
Kaup, Cornelison published in Geriatric Nursing
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
New research from Kansas State University's Center on Aging found that person-centered care in nursing homes may help control infections.
A recently published article, "The relationship between person-centered care in nursing homes and COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates," in Geriatric Nursing concludes that Kansas nursing home providers that participate in the state's PEAK program had lower incidents of COVID-19 infections, admissions and mortality rates. PEAK is a senior living program administered by the Center on Aging for the state of Kansas
Migette Kaup, research co-principal investigator for K-State's Center on Aging, and Laci Cornelison, the center's PEAK program coordinator, studied data from the National Institutes of Health to compare the rates of COVID-19 infections, admissions or readmissions and deaths between Kansas senior living providers that practice person-centered care models and those that do not. The analysis of the data shows that person-centered care models may promote infection control and improve clinical outcomes.
Person-centered care shifts the focus from task-oriented care to individual care and makes resident preferences and quality of life as necessary as clinical and supportive care. Examples of person-centered care include hygiene preferences like a shower or a bath, what time a resident prefers to eat, consistent staffing and empowering staff to notice small changes in resident behavior or routine.
This research further validates that senior living communities that invest in this model of resident care have quality outcomes. Previous person-centered care research has shown higher satisfaction with quality of life, reduce incidence of depression and improved clinical care.
Kaup and Cornelison collaborated with researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, on this study.