REVIEW PAPER
Perspectives on the Use of the Family-Centered Care (FCC) Concept in in the support system for older people
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These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-11-23
Final revision date: 2026-02-27
Acceptance date: 2026-03-06
Publication date: 2026-04-18
JoMS 2026;65(1):611-633
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ABSTRACT
The article describes the concept of Family-Centered Care (FCC) as a modern approach in which the family is an active partner in planning and delivering care, rather than merely a recipient of services. Originally developed mainly in pediatrics, this model is increasingly being applied in the care of older adults. FCC is grounded in a broad theoretical foundation—including family systems theory, ecological development theory, salutogenesis, the ethics of care, and the concept of empowerment—which emphasizes the importance of relationships, collaboration, and the use of family resources. International research shows that FCC improves the quality of life of patients and their relatives, strengthens communication with staff, and increases the effectiveness of care. In countries such as the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, and Germany, this model is widely used in geriatrics, rehabilitation, and palliative care. In Poland, FCC is implemented mainly in a fragmented manner, especially in neonatology, and there is a lack of systemic standards as well as a Polish version of the FCCA tool used to assess the quality of family-centered care.
The authors point out that in the care of older adults, FCC can serve as an alternative to the dominant hierarchical compensatory model, which assumes that the family bears the primary burden of care. An example of practical implementation of FCC in Poland is the FAMCARE project, based on cooperation between families, institutions, and the local community, aligned with the idea of deinstitutionalization. The article emphasizes that FCC can significantly improve the quality of care for older adults in Poland, but achieving this requires organizational, cultural, and competency-related changes within the support system.
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