Individual-Focused Care is important because this kind of care focuses on customized facilities for one’s particular kind of care and personalized attention to each individual patient. All patients are not treated the same. Every patient is unique and needs their own kind individualized care. This allows the patient to feels safe, secure, and comfortable with their particular surroundings. It is important to give this sense of security to the patient because it will allow him to respond to their treatment or medication more effectively. Additionally, it can allow them to feel good about their selves. Another advantage is the development between the doctor and patient. One way of doing this is by using active listening skills. “This means hearing every word, noting the emotion behind the word, hearing the tone of voice, observing facial expressions, dress, posture and demeanor, being aware of one’s own emotions and reactions, and being able to follow the patient’s story plus the unspoken story, the subtheme, that underlies the story” (Branch, 2014, p.3.) This helps to add to their safe, secure, and comfortable feelings. Individuals like to be heard, remembered, understood, and have relations with their particular physician. A difference in one’s culture could alter effective communication and understanding them would allow them for more appreciation for the doctor. Thus, the patient is more likely to follow the doctor’s instructions.
However, there are barriers and challenges that may occur during the implementation of the individual-focused care in nursing homes. One of these barriers may include one’s religion. It is vital for the patient to have their religion or lack thereof, respected. One may be treated differently according to their religious beliefs. Therefore, treatments will vary depending on their specific needs.
Mental, physical, and psychological issues were also barriers and were addressed when the Nursing Home Reform Act incorporated into the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987 enacted a law requiring that each nursing home resident "be provided with services sufficient to attain and maintain his or her highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being."( Koren, 2010) Acts and Regulations in our government can help break down barriers such as these regarding one’s health.
After searching through the Ashford library for additional barriers, a study was located from the patient’s perspective on barriers., and they feel like cultural language and communication needs to be utilized effectively. “The patient will have to be informed about his or her condition and available evidence based choices in enough detail and simple understandable language, to enable him or her to reach meaningful decisions” (Qidwai, Nanji, and Al-Ali, 2016, p.5). This helps to add to their safe, secure, and comfortable feeling. When a doctor or caretaker is unaware of how to interact with the patient properly it can cause them to shut down and not follow orders causing them to have reverse rehabilitation and possibly worsen conditions. Therefore, language, communications, and respect for one’s culture, including religion and well-being, are barriers that may occur during the implementation of the individual-focused care in nursing homes.
An example of person-centered practices is the delivery of medicines and medical supplies to where the patient is; especially if they are being treated at home. It is extremely convenient for the individual patient to have their medication delivered to them personally. The is one example of an individual-focused care practice.
Another example includes patient involvement; a patient may also choose the type of nurse that they want. This is another practice that is offered by individual-focused care. A patient may have a nurse or staff that he feels more or most comfortable with and so, with this second practice, he is able to choose that nurse or staff. This may vary because of religious or cultural beliefs.
In conclusion, person-centered care is more beneficial than other care service because patients feel more secure, safe, comfortable, and understood. When this kind of care is specialized; patients are treated differently, according to their own particular needs, wants, or demands. This whole process of making-patients feel important is a trademark of a person-centered care; which also aids in a patient’s health improvement for their own benefit. If appropriate steps are taken, this kind of care will result with the best outcomes.

References:
Branch, W. T. (2014). Treating the whole patient: passing time-honored skills for building doctor-patient relationships on to generations of doctors. Medical Education, 48(1), 67-74 8p. doi:10.1111/medu.12369
Koren, M. J. (2010, February). Person-centered care for nursing home residents: The culture-change movement. Health Affairs, 29(2) p. 312. Retrieved July 7, 2010 from ProQuest database. ProQuest can be accessed from the Library link in the left navigation panel.
Qidwai W, Nanji K, Al-Ali A, et al. Barriers, Challenges and Way Forward for Implementation of Person Centered Care Model of Patient and Physician Consultation: A Survey of Patients' Perspective from Eastern Mediterranean Countries. Middle East Journal Of Family Medicine [serial online]. April 2015;13(3):4-11. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 29, 2016.