DCW - Direct Care Worker Person-Centered Care Planning Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the fundamental difference between a traditional medical model of care planning and a person-centered care plan?

Accepted Answer

Traditional plans focus on the client's diagnosis and deficits, while person-centered plans focus on the individual's strengths, goals, and preferences.

Answer

The core of person-centered planning is a shift away from the traditional medical model, which concentrates on what's wrong with a person (diagnoses, problems, deficits). Instead, person-centered planning builds upon an individual's unique strengths, what is important TO them (their goals and preferences), and what is important FOR them to live a good life.

Question 2

A DCW is working with a new client, Mr. Chen, to understand his preferences for his daily routine. Which of the following questions BEST demonstrates a person-centered approach?

Accepted Answer

"Tell me about what a good day looks like for you. What time do you usually like to get up and what helps you start your day right?"

Answer

A person-centered approach seeks to understand the individual's personal routines, values, and preferences to build a plan of care. Asking an open-ended question like, "Tell me about what a good day looks like for you," invites the client to share what is personally important to them, rather than imposing a pre-set schedule or relying on the assumptions of others.

Question 3

Which of the following is the BEST example of a person-centered goal in a care plan?

Accepted Answer

"I want to be able to walk to the mailbox by myself to get my mail each afternoon because I enjoy the fresh air."

Answer

A person-centered goal is defined by the individual and reflects what is meaningful to them, often in their own words. While the other options are valid clinical goals, the correct answer connects the activity (walking) to a personal motivation and desired outcome (getting the mail, enjoying fresh air), making it person-centered.

Question 4

During a care planning meeting, the individual receiving services is considered the:

Accepted Answer

Expert and central member of the team, whose input is the most important.

Answer

In person-centered planning, the individual is the most important person on the team. They are recognized as the expert on their own life, goals, and preferences. The role of professionals and family is to support the individual in articulating and achieving their vision for their life.

Question 5

A client's person-centered plan states a goal of attending their grandchild's weekly soccer games. However, the client has been refusing to go for the past two weeks. What is the MOST appropriate action for the DCW?

Accepted Answer

Respectfully ask the client what is making them not want to go and report the change to the supervisor.

Answer

Person-centered planning is an ongoing process, and people's preferences and needs can change. The best action is to explore the reason for the change in a respectful way. There may be a new barrier (e.g., pain, anxiety, a conflict) that needs to be addressed. This information should then be communicated to the supervisor so the care plan can be reviewed and updated if necessary.

DCW - Direct Care Worker Practice Test

DCW - Direct Care Worker Practice Test

DCW - Direct Care Worker Person-Centered Care Planning Questions and Answers