Most seniors don’t look forward to the day they need to move into a long-term care facility. They have lived in their own home for years, sometimes decades, and enjoy the comforts they have become accustomed to. They cherish their independence, freedom, and ability to make choices in their lives. But, when the day comes for long-term care placement, it would be reassuring to know that they will receive kind and loving care and their dignity will be preserved.
What Does “Dignity” Mean and Why is it Important in Senior Care?
The word “dignity” has many meanings. It is the quality of being worthy of esteem and respect. It is also a feeling that we are being treated like a human being in a non-judgmental environment. Dignity also is a psychosocial state, which is a complex combination of the personal, social or interpersonal. And last, dignity is something that is bestowed on us by other people. It is important for seniors to receive good physical care whether it is from nursing, physical therapy or occupational therapy. Seniors also require good nutrition from the dietary department. Having fun and meaningful activities is also a plus. But, just as important, seniors deserve dignified care and services. In order to magnify the importance of dignity in senior care, allow me to provide examples of undignified care.
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Undignified Care
Senior care is hard work, both physically and psychologically. There are lots of people to care for, employees call off, there are schedules to follow, medications to pass, meals to prepare and paperwork that cannot wait. It can become very easy to deliver undignified care, and not necessarily intentionally.
When care staff forgets to pay attention to the seniors’ physical appearance, vent negative attitudes, move too quickly, watch the clock and complain about not having a break, that’s undignified care. When seniors have what they ate for breakfast, lunch or dinner on their face, have dirty glasses, soiled linens, or their body parts are exposed, that’s undignified care.
If staff talk over the heads of their residents, don’t involve them in conversations, discuss sensitive information in the open, and don’t answer call lights in a timely manner, that’s undignified care.
Obstacles to Dignity
Many things can get in the way of providing care with dignity. I truly believe most employees in senior care do not provide undignified care intentionally. There first needs to be awareness that care is being delivered either in a dignified way or not, and then do something about it. You cannot change something that you cannot see. The senior care environment should work towards a culture of dignified care and continually monitor the quality of care and educate employees on fulfilling quality of life, sensitivity, resident rights and cultural differences.
Other things that get in the way of dignified care is practicing task-first care, in which the resident is second in line, behind the work that needs to be done. Person-centered care is the only way to achieve dignity in care, because it places the resident at the center of the care model. Their needs, preferences, desires, likes and dislikes are all front and center and are well-known by the staff caring for them. Truly knowing your resident is a great step in providing dignified care.
When employees become complacent, deliver mediocre care, come to work in a bad mood, hung over, or don’t show up at all, dignity is the last thing on their mind. They may be working short, angry at other employees or management, or may be annoyed at caring for residents who are very ill, demanding or “high maintenance”. Again, I doubt that dignity is on the tip of their tongue.
Final Words on Dignity in Senior Care
Dignity in care is important for many reasons. Above all else, seniors deserve to receive care with no judgment, bias or bad attitudes. They should feel important and loved, worthy of attention and respect. I don’t believe that employees wake up, get in their car and drive to their facility thinking about ways to deliver undignified and disrespectful care. But, things happen like working understaffed or preparing for annual state survey that can take precedence over person-centered care. Being aware of what and who is important in senior care should be on the minds of employees on a daily basis.
(NOTE: Interested in Nursing CEUs? Checkout my Nursing CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
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