Dignity in Care

Written on 05 May 2020.

Back in February, we observed Dignity Action Day. Due to many recent items in the news being discussed around patient care in light of the Covid-19 crisis, we thought this would be a good time to look at the subject of ‘dignity’, which is so important in providing care.

This is a chance for everyone, including health and social care staff and members of the public, to get involved in the discussion around dignity in care. It’s about promoting a positive culture in the care services and ensuring that individuals are able to access the quality of support and care that they deserve.

How Do We Define Dignity in Care?

The Dignity in Care organisation works to promote the treatment of people with dignity and respect. This can be quite difficult concept to define clearly when you sit down and think about it, even though most of us know what it means.

For a care service like ours, it’s more than having the right processes and systems in place, even though these are important in maintaining standards. It’s about the relationships we build with individuals and the focus we put on providing the support they need.

Someone can feel neglected even if they are receiving care. They might believe that carers think they are a nuisance. They may feel that they are treated not as a person but like an object or that their carers might get irritated simply because they have to pay attention to a particular individual.

Privacy can also be an issue in providing care. It’s something most of us would find unacceptable if our privacy was not respected, particularly with basic tasks such as going to the bathroom. Providing personalised care is important to ensuring that an individual’s privacy is respected. Building a close bond so that people feel more comfortable and get the respect they need, is vital to any care plan.

Social inclusion is another part of dignity in care. Older people living alone, for example, can often feel very isolated. They may have a carer coming in at some point during the day but otherwise, they are left to themselves. Dignity is about ensuring that someone can connect positively with the community, keep in contact with friends and family and lead a full and rewarding social life.

Unfortunately, we must also consider that historically, there have been instances of abuse within the care industry. This may range from neglect and disinterest to overt psychological or physical abuse. The dignity in care mantra is not to accept abuse in any form and have a zero-tolerance towards this kind of behaviour in all its forms.

Dignity covers every aspect of life. Take nutrition, for example. At Wessex Care, this is an important part of the day and we allow our residents to have as much choice as they would like over their meals, if the regular menu we set is not what they ‘fancy’. It’s not only vital to have good nutrition and hydration, mealtimes are a social occasion and an important component in quality of life, especially for older people.

What Dignity in Care Means to Wessex Care

Our aims at Wessex Care are to provide a home in the real sense of the word, for those we are charged with caring for. Dignity in care, therefore, lies at the heart of all our processes, the facilities we provide and the attitudes of our staff.

As a family-owned business, we understand that dignity in care is a huge part of our lives and it’s something we are proud to be associated with. Get in touch if you would like to find out more about our policies around the welfare and well being of our residents.