Independence and Autonomy

 

 

 

 

Respecting Independence and Autonomy is essential for good practice in care work.

 

Everyone expects to be treated in a way which respects their individual (independence)

 

People also have the right to have the power (autonomy) to make decisions for themselves

 

Some Examples

People expect

·      To be treated with respect at all times

·      To have our choices, wishes and preferences, listened to and respected

·      To have our beliefs in our culture and race, and our religious and political beliefs recognised and respected

·      To have our age , gender, sexual identity, physical and mental condition recognised, listened to and respected

·      To be communicated with in ways we understand and which value us as people

·      To have the right to say ‘No’ when determining and managing our lives

·      To have our feelings recognised and respected and to be allowed to express emotional needs

·      To have our need for privacy and confidentiality respected

 

In effect we all have needs

 

Care workers need to understand the needs of individuals

 

Maslow (a  Psychologist) argued that there was a ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ in Humans

 

 

 

 

In groups

 

Consider the Physical, Intellectual, Social and Emotional Factors which a carer would have to take into account for the following clients/patients

 

1.            An elderly patient suffering from dementia in residential care

2.            A care worker/educator who is teaching ‘Terry’ a 35 year old man with learning difficulties.

 

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