Adult Day Services: 12 Words to Never Use in Person-Centered Care
Appropriate language is crucial to ensuring Person-Centered Care in the Adult Day Center. Documentation describes the participant and, depending on the language used, will reinforce either a person-centered approach or a potentially condescending and staff-centered medical-model approach. Language reinforces behavior; by ensuring this type of language is used in all documentation, you are supporting Person-Centered care and thus, better outcomes for your participants.
Below are words often used in treatment planning or describing participants that are not Person-Centered and alternatives which are; constructive and/or neutral. Use them in good health!
- Instead of using the phrase “Behavior Problem”, use “Alternative Personal Action Pattern”
- Instead of using the word “Allow”, use “Invite”
- Instead of using the word “Unacceptable or Defiant” use “Challenging”
- Instead of using the words “Less Acceptable”, use “More Effective”
- Instead of using the word “Behavior”, use “Actions”
- Instead of using the word “Grasp”, use “Awareness”
- Instead of using the word “Complaints”, use “Feelings”
- Instead of using the word “Non-Compliance/Non-Adherence”, use “Challenges”
- Instead of using the word “Deficient”, use “Incomplete”
- Instead of using the word “Ordered”, use “Prescribed”
- Instead of using the word “Appropriate”, use “Successful”.
For more information about Person-Centered care planning, click here to check out Total ADHC’s line of Person-Centered Care Planning Manuals for Adult Day Services.