Person-centered tools to support medication management

Page posted: 3/6/24

Overview of person-centered practices

Person-centered practices allow the person receiving services to lead processes so they have positive control over their life. The provider uses person-centered practices to explore, discover and learn about the person to deepen their understanding of them. They must use individualized processes that provide information about what the person would like their life to be.

The provider typically gathers information about:

· Person’s strengths, gifts and preferences.

· Person’s short-term or long-term dreams and visions.

· Person’s preferred lifestyle.

· Environments and activities in which a person spends their time, including whether the person wants changes.

· Person’s circle of support and the roles people play in their life, including the nature and frequency of support.

· Any barriers that might prevent the person from achieving their desired outcomes or preferred lifestyle.

· Support the person needs and desires to achieve their preferred lifestyle.

If the person does not use words to communicate, it is important that several people who know the person well are included in person-centered discovery processes.

Person-centered tools and medication management

Person-centered tools can highlight the relationship between the person’s quality of life and the use of psychotropic medications. They give the provider a way to discover, describe and ensure the person’s desired life.

The following person-centered tools may be helpful for people who use psychotropic medications:

· Tool: Important to/important for.

· Tool: Relationship charting.

· Tool: 4+1 questions.

· Tool: What’s working/what’s not working.

These tools can be helpful for the provider as they prepare for an appointment, meet with licensed practitioners and evaluate medications over time as they notice changes.

Additional tools involved in person-centered thinking and practices are available through other resources. DHS encourages the provider to use whatever tools work best for the person.

Additional resources

DHS – Person-centered practices
DHS – Frequently asked questions about formal person-centered planning
Psychotropic Medication Manual – Quality-of-life assessments