Introduction: The demographic shift towards an aging population, combined with the rising burden of chronic conditions, places increasing pressure on healthcare systems in high-income countries. In this context, person-centered care has gained prominence, promoted by the World Health Organization and embedded in national health policies, reflecting a global movement to reorient health systems around individuals. However, translating person-centeredness into clinical practice is a gradual and complex undertaking, strongly influenced by organizational culture and the conditions under which care is delivered. The sustainability of person-centered practice, as well as the experiences of inpatients and healthcare professionals, is determined by these contextual elements. Objective: To describe the role of workplace culture in shaping person-centered practice in an inpatient hospital department for older adults with chronic illness. Methods: The study adopted a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory-observational design. Participant observation, guided by the Workplace Culture Critical Analysis Tool®, served as the basis for data collection. Data was examined through a deductive thematic content analysis, with themes identified and organized in accordance with the Person-Centered Practice Framework, covering the dimensions of prerequisites, the practice environment, and person-centered processes. Results: Themes were identified across all dimensions of the Person-Centered Practice Framework.  Variations in subthemes suggested inconsistencies in care delivery, linked to variations among professionals and limited opportunities for multiprofessional dialogue and collaborative decision-making. The analysis revealed tensions between routine-driven tasks and holistic, individualized care planning essential to person-centered practice. Conclusions: Advancing person-centeredness within hospital culture remains a considerable challenge, as routine-oriented tasks frequently undermine efforts to provide individualized care. Strengthening multiprofessional collaboration and integrating reflective practices are key strategies to contribute to the creation of a more supportive workplace culture and to ensure the sustainability of person-centered practice in this context. Keywords: aged; inpatient; non-communicable diseases; patient-centered care; workplace cultural critical assessment tool; workplace culture.