Background: Person-Centered Care (PCC) has gained global momentum in long-term care (LTC), yet it remains largely a western-derived concept. With rapid aging in Asia, understanding how regional policies operationalize PCC is critical. This study examines PCC terminology in LTC policies across Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Methods: Three bilingual investigators systematically reviewed LTC policy documents from the five regions. First, a PCC keyword inventory was constructed and validated by LTC experts to guide the review. After establishing Inter-Coder Reliability (ICR), each investigator then independently coded region-specific documents based on their language proficiency. Identified keywords underwent descriptive, thematic, and network analyses to examine document characteristics, derive conceptual dimensions, and explore co-occurrence patterns across regions.

Results: An ICR of 92.6% was achieved, and 83 PCC-related keywords from 15 policy documents were categorized into five dimensions: whole concept, dignity & personhood, choice & preference, person-fit environment, and interpersonal relationship. Choice & preference (n=28, 33.7%) and dignity & personhood (n=23, 27.7%) dominated the terminology landscape. Hong Kong emphasized choice, especially in its recent policy developments. Taiwan demonstrated a balanced distribution across dimensions with prominent cultural considerations. Japan's focus on jiritsu (independence/autonomy) strengthened the dignity dimension. Korea and Singapore showed fewer terms, primarily within quality standards documentation.

Discussion: Findings reveal regional variations in PCC operationalization, reflecting legislative and cultural differences. Document type influences terminology specificity. Results inform culturally appropriate implementation and highlight the need for Asian-contextualized frameworks beyond western models.

Authors:
Yin Zhong, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Xin Guan, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Katrina Tingan Jin, Purdue University, United States
Terry Yat Sang Lum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Yin Zhong is currently a PhD student in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests lie in gerontology and long-term care.

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