A significant aspect of Person Centered Medicine involves the empowerment of individuals and communities, recognizing them as actors and protagonists in the construction of their own health. Thus, the empowering of community members may be helpfully framed by the proper understanding of person-centered care. Core notions or principles of this approach posit whole contextualised persons as the centre of health and as the goal and protagonists of health actions. But what is the relevant context? In recent years, it has become clear that the persons’ health is intimately linked to their social situation and to the broader environment in which they live.

Substantial attention is directed in this manuscript to the understanding and procedures related to self-care praxis, including the Seven Pillars of Self-Care, the Self-Care Continuum and the Self-Care Matrix. Some attention is given to the emerging concept of inter-care or mutual care, and its potential conceptual and policy implications.

This chapter focuses on three contextual levels—firstly, whole contextualised individuals and the range of their activities and behaviours relevant to their health. Secondly considered is the social situation (family and community) and, thirdly, the broader environment (the health system and the green and built environment) and how these can affect the health of persons as individuals and communities. Everyone lives in some sort of community and environment, which may either empower and enrich or hinder their health. A person-centred approach should consider these broader contexts while focusing on the persons involved.

The chapter concludes with a discussion on the social and economic impact of self-care and inter-care by the empowered individuals and community, and how such forms of care can be considered as fundamental acts of person-centeredness.