Abstract
BACKGROUND: As the global population ages, there is an increasing focus on enhancing the psychological well-being of older adults. A key strategy is person-centred care, which emphasises recognising each individual as unique, with their values, needs, and preferences. This study explored older adults' perceptions of person-centred care and its relationship with their general health and psychological well-being. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 632 participants aged 65 to 96 years (mean age = 73.4 ± 6.7) was conducted, comprising 435 (69%) female and 197 (31%) male participants. Of these, 57% lived in home environments, while 43% resided in retirement homes. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire that included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and the Person-Centred Practice Inventory for Service Users (PCPI-SU). Data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 28.0, and non-parametric tests such as the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's correlation were used. RESULTS: Older adults who reported more frequent contact with relatives or loved ones (daily or several times per week) and those residing in home environments perceived significantly higher levels of person-centred care compared to those with less frequent contact and those living in retirement homes (p < 0.001 for both variables). General health varied significantly according to gender (p = 0.009), level of education (p < 0.001), and living environment (p = 0.004), while psychological well-being among older adults showed significant differences based solely on their level of education (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that person-centred care (p = 0.017) and monthly income (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the psychological well-being of older adults, independent of their living environment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that person-centred care and monthly income significantly predict psychological well-being among older adults. Differences in perceived care and health outcomes were also observed based on gender, education level, and living environment. These results underscore the importance of promoting person-centred care practices, particularly in retirement home settings, to enhance psychological well-being in older adult populations.