Ethics in elderly care: kindness alone is not enough.
Elderly care profession là một nghề rất cần lòng tử tế. Nếu không có sự thương người, kiên nhẫn và cảm thông, rất khó để chăm sóc một người cao tuổi trong những lúc họ yếu, chậm, đau, buồn, cáu gắt hoặc không hợp tác.
But kindness alone is not enough.
Một người chăm sóc có thể rất thương old person, nhưng nếu thường xuyên đi trễ, báo cáo không rõ, giấu sự cố, tự ý dùng đồ của gia đình, nói chuyện riêng tư ra ngoài hoặc tự ý làm những việc vượt quá phạm vi, thì vẫn chưa thể xem là người làm nghề có chuẩn.
Professional ethics in elderly care It is a combination of kindness, skill, discipline, honesty, and responsibility. Caregivers need not only a soft heart but also clear professional principles.
Why isn't kindness alone enough?
Kindness is a precious foundation, but in elderly care, kindness needs to be placed within a professional framework.
Old person là nhóm dễ tổn thương. Họ có thể yếu, hay quên, đi lại khó khăn, cần hỗ trợ vệ sinh, thay đồ, thay tã, ăn uống hoặc sinh hoạt hằng ngày. Gia đình giao người thân cho người chăm sóc không chỉ vì người chăm sóc “có lòng”, mà vì họ cần một người đáng tin.
Even if a caregiver is kind but lacks skills, they may unintentionally cause the elderly person to fall, choke, get hurt, or feel neglected.
If a caregiver is kind but lacks discipline, they may arrive late, putting the family in a difficult position or making the elderly person wait.
If a caregiver is kind but dishonest, trust will be lost very quickly.
Therefore, kindness must go hand in hand with professionalism. Having good intentions alone is not enough; you must know how to provide proper care.
Professional ethics begins with honesty.
Honest That is the first principle of professional ethics in caregiving.
Caregivers need to be honest about every little thing: arrival time, departure time, tasks completed, tasks left undone, the elderly person's condition, incidents that occurred, household assets, and their own capabilities.
If an elderly person falls, report it. If an elderly person eats less, report it. If an elderly person coughs or chokes, report it. If you notice redness on the skin while changing a diaper, report it. If you don't know how to do a particular skill, be honest so you can be taught.
Don't hide things out of fear of being blamed. A small incident, if reported early, can be handled smoothly. But if it's concealed, it can become a big problem and erode family trust.
In caregiving, trung thực là nền móng của uy tín.
Being on time shows respect for the person being cared for.
On time It's not just about professionalism. Punctuality is part of professional ethics.
Người già và người bệnh thường có lịch sinh hoạt khá cố định. Họ cần ăn đúng giờ, vệ sinh đúng lúc, thay đồ, đi lại, nghỉ ngơi, uống thuốc theo hướng dẫn của gia đình hoặc đi khám theo lịch.
If caregivers arrive late, the family is caught off guard. The elderly may have to wait to eat, wait to use the restroom, wait to be helped up, or wait for someone to talk to. For frail individuals, waiting is no small matter.
If there is an unavoidable circumstance, the caregiver needs to notify the caregiver as soon as possible. They should not remain silent, nor should they arrive late and offer a vague explanation.
Being on time is a way of telling your family, "I respect this job and I respect the person I'm taking care of."
Knowing that reporting is a professional responsibility.
Caregivers not only have to work, but also have to report.
The family needs to know how the elderly person is eating and sleeping today, whether they are moving around properly, if they are in pain, if they have fallen, if they show any unusual signs, if their mood has changed, and what support the caregiver has provided.
A good report doesn't need to be long, but it must be clear and truthful.
For example:
- "Today she ate less than usual; at lunchtime, she only had about half a bowl."
- "When she stood up, she said she felt a little dizzy, so I let her sit down to rest."
- "While changing diapers, I noticed the skin on the hip area was slightly red, so I asked my family to monitor it further."
A caregiver who reports is a responsible person. Someone who doesn't report, or reports only superficially, will find it difficult to build long-term trust.
Keep family matters confidential.
Caregivers work in the private space of a family home. They may know many things that outsiders shouldn't know: health status, property, conflicts, daily routines, matters concerning children and grandchildren, illnesses, or very private moments of the elderly person.
All of that needs to be kept secret.
You shouldn't share your clients' family matters with outsiders. You shouldn't post them on social media. You shouldn't discuss the fussiness, diaper changes, illnesses, or private lives of elderly people as if it were gossip.
Keep it a secret. This is an important part of professional care ethics. Families trust caregivers not only because they are competent, but also because they keep their word and maintain their credibility.
Protecting family assets
Caregivers typically work in clients' homes, where there is money, telephones, personal belongings, documents, jewelry, medications, valuables, or items of sentimental value.
Caregivers are strictly prohibited from using, borrowing, holding, moving, or taking any property without the family's permission.
If you notice any missing, damaged, or malfunctioning items, please report it clearly.
Protecting assets It's not just about "not taking." It's also about being careful, transparent, and respecting the family's private space.
A good caregiver who is unreliable with their assets cannot go far in the profession.
Respect the dignity of the elderly.
Older people may be frail, slow, forgetful, irritable, or need assistance with personal hygiene. But they still possess dignity.
Caregivers should not yell at, scold, give orders, criticize, humiliate the elderly, or discuss their private matters in front of others.
When changing clothes, diapers, cleaning, bathing, or assisting with toileting, discretion, prior notice, and gentleness are essential.
It can be said that:
- "Let me change Grandma's clothes."
- "Cover her up properly, then we'll change her diaper, Grandpa."
- "If you feel pain or cold, please let me know."
These are small words, but they show a great deal of respect.
Ethical care for the elderly The goal is to ensure the safety of the elderly while still making them feel respected and not disrespected.
Don't personalize the unpleasant remarks of the elderly.
Elderly people may be irritable, complain, speak harshly, or be uncooperative. This can be tiring and upsetting for caregivers.
But caregivers need to understand that many of the reactions of older adults can stem from pain, fatigue, insomnia, fear of dependence, loneliness, or a feeling of loss of autonomy.
Not personalizing doesn't mean blindly tolerating everything. It means not immediately interpreting every unpleasant remark as an insult directed at you.
The caregiver can remain calm and say:
- "I heard what you said, Grandpa. Let's take it slowly."
- "If there's anything bothering you, please let me know so I can adjust it."
- "I'll do it more slowly, Grandpa."
If the situation becomes beyond your capabilities, you should inform your family or supervisor. Professional ethics dictate that you handle the situation appropriately, without retaliating verbally or through negative behavior.
Do not work outside the scope of your duties.
An ethical caregiver needs to know their limits.
If you are a non-medical caregiver, you must not prescribe medication, change medication, discontinue medication, administer injections or infusions, treat complex wounds, debride ulcers, diagnose illnesses, or perform intensive rehabilitation exercises without proper expertise and guidance.
Knowing your limits doesn't make a caregiver less competent. On the contrary, it's a sign of professionalism.
A good caregiver isn't someone who does everything. A good caregiver is someone who knows how to do their part, knows when to ask questions, and knows when to report problems.
Practice your profession with compassion and discipline.
Compassion helps caregivers be gentle when dealing with difficult elderly people, sick and ailing patients, or worried family members.
But discipline helps caregivers avoid acting on impulse.
Discipline includes being punctual, following instructions correctly, reporting accurately, maintaining hygiene, keeping one's word, adhering to professional boundaries, and not making decisions beyond one's scope.
If there is only compassion without discipline, caregiving can easily become haphazard. If there is only discipline without compassion, caregiving can easily become cold.
The caregiving profession requires both a warm heart and a clear, professional demeanor.
How does SAN Care Academy train professionals in professional ethics?
In SAN Care AcademyProfessional ethics is an important part of training in elderly care and patients.
Trainees learn that the caregiving profession requires more than just skills in feeding, hygiene, mobility, dressing, diapering, or risk prevention. Caregiving also demands honesty, punctuality, clear reporting, maintaining family confidentiality, protecting property, respecting those being cared for, and working within the designated scope.
SAN Care Academy trains caregivers with the philosophy that kindness is the standard, but kindness must be accompanied by skills, discipline, and responsibility.
Ethical caregivers build trust. And trust is the greatest asset of the caregiving profession.
Who should study professional ethics for caregivers?
This content is suitable for those who want to learn the profession of caring for the elderly and the sick, beginners, caregivers, home caregivers, those currently working as home caregivers, and families who employ caregivers.
In particular, those who want to pursue a long-term career in caregiving need to learn professional ethics from the very beginning. While skills can be honed over time, a lack of ethics makes it very difficult to maintain trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the professional ethics for caring for the elderly?
These principles include honesty, punctuality, respect for the person being cared for, maintaining family confidentiality, protecting property, reporting clearly, and not working beyond one's scope of responsibility.
Why isn't kindness alone enough?
Because the caregiving profession requires skills, discipline, responsibility, and professionalism. Kindness combined with a lack of skills or honesty can still pose risks.
Do caregivers need to keep family matters confidential?
Yes. Caregivers work in the privacy of the family home, so they need to keep information confidential and not share personal matters with outsiders.
Why is punctuality a professional ethics?
Because the elderly, the sick, and their families depend on a care schedule, being late can leave them unprepared and lose confidence.
Can non-medical caregivers administer medication without consulting a doctor?
No. Non-medical caregivers should not prescribe, change, discontinue, or perform medical interventions without proper expertise and guidance.
Register for a consultation on courses in caring for the elderly and the sick.
If you wish to learn the profession of caring for the elderly and the sick in a kind, skilled, and ethical manner, SAN Care Academy can advise you on a suitable course.
You can register to receive a consultation:
- Suitable courses in elderly and sick care.
- Training content on professional ethics for caregivers.
- Life skills and safety
- Reporting skills, communication skills, and working with family.
- Latest tuition fees and class schedules
- Supervised internship conditions
- Career guidance after the course
Sign up for a consultation today to learn how to provide proper, kind, and professional care.
