# Holistic Care > Holistic Care means encompassing all physical, psychological, cultural, linguistic, social, and economic needs in providing patient care **Term:** Holistic Care **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Holistic Care Means in a Contract Holistic Care, as a contractual term, describes an obligation to address the whole person rather than a single symptom or need. It requires a provider to consider physical, psychological, cultural, linguistic, social, and economic factors when delivering a service, most commonly a care or support service. The term functions as a standard of performance, telling the parties what quality and breadth of service is expected under the agreement. Because the phrase covers several distinct dimensions of a person's wellbeing, it is rarely left undefined in a well-drafted contract. Parties typically attach a definition clause or schedule that lists the specific needs to be considered, so that both the provider and the recipient of care have a shared understanding of what compliance looks like. Without this clarity, the term risks becoming aspirational language rather than an enforceable obligation. In practice, Holistic Care clauses are used to set expectations for staff training, service design, and reporting. They signal that a narrow, transactional approach to service delivery will not satisfy the contract, and that broader wellbeing considerations must be built into how the service is planned and delivered. ## How Holistic Care Is Defined or Measured Measuring compliance with a Holistic Care obligation is inherently more complex than measuring a purely quantitative standard, such as response times or unit costs. Contracts often address this by breaking the concept into measurable components, for example requiring documented assessments of a person's cultural background, language needs, social circumstances, and economic constraints alongside their physical and psychological condition. Some agreements incorporate reference to external frameworks, professional guidance, or accreditation standards as a benchmark for what holistic practice looks like in a given sector. Others rely on outcome-based measures, such as satisfaction surveys, care plan reviews, or audits, to evidence that the broader needs identified in the definition have actually been considered and addressed. - Documented needs assessments covering each listed dimension - Regular care plan reviews involving the service recipient - Staff training records demonstrating cultural and linguistic competence - Independent audits or inspections against agreed standards ## Where Holistic Care Appears in Agreements The term is most frequently found in healthcare and social care contracts, including service agreements between commissioners and providers, employment contracts for care staff, and policies governing how an organization delivers support to patients or service users. It is common in the