The importance of upholding dignity in care

Fundamentally, we all want to feel understood, respected and supported. To help make this possible and promote dignity, individuals being looked after should be active in their own care. Before any action is taken, a thorough care assessment should be carried out to discover as much detail as possible about their health, preferences, abilities, limitations and ambitions.

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Dignity is hard to define. It can mean many things to many people; the freedom to make a choice, to have a voice, to be spoken to and treated like an individual instead of an object. On the surface, these are basic human rights, but when someone moves into care, their life is largely placed into the hands of the people looking after them. It’s then up to the care provider to maintain that dignity through every aspect of the service. 

Regulation 10 under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 was put in place to safeguard individuals by ensuring there is dignity and respect in care at all times. In care, dignity can be sustained by recognising a person’s capacity, strengths, ambitions and working together to support them in living a fulfilled life. Therefore, dignity should be at the forefront of every action, decision and communication. The CQC defines dignity and respect as “making sure that people have privacy when they need and want it, treating them as equals and providing any support they might need to be autonomous, independent and involved in their local community.”

What is dignity?

Dignity is something we feel that’s engrained in each of us – and it’s delicate. It’s our self-worth combined with how we want to be perceived and treated by others. We can feel on top of the world one minute, then low the next if our identity is disregarded or taken from us. For many of us who have total control over our lives, it’s easier to manage our own sense of dignity. If we feel disrespected then we can make choices. The choice we make might not always make us feel better, but at least it’s our choice. Staying true to ourselves is living with dignity. 

For people who require care, the same level of dignity is needed in order to feel whole. When your life is being lived for you or control is removed, existence becomes less fulfilling. This can quickly lead to a decrease in confidence and motivation. The best way to ensure there is dignity in treatment and care is to offer a completely person-centred service.  

How is dignity in care upheld?

Fundamentally, we all want to feel understood, respected and supported. To help make this possible and promote dignity, individuals being looked after should be active in their own care. Before any action is taken, a thorough care assessment should be carried out to discover as much detail as possible about their health, preferences, abilities, limitations and ambitions. With the individual’s involvement, this information can then be used to create a person-centred care plan. 

During the planning process, providing a person with suitable information allows them to contribute and make choices that they will be satisfied with. The care worker should still take the lead and give final approval to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the individual, but encouraging participation and offering options that fit their preferences can reinforce self-respect, freedom and independence.  

Another critical factor in upholding dignity is good communication. Speaking to someone at their level without overcomplicating things or coming off as patronising, and actively listening to what they say, are skills which can be improved over time. Once decisions have been made regarding care and treatment, the individual should be kept fully informed throughout and consulted before any changes are made to the plan.  

Small gestures can also go a long way in making someone feel valued. Taking time out of your day to interact with residents, speaking in a warm and friendly manner, and showing empathy are examples of this. Each person should be treated as an equal and never as a burden.  

An example of a larger gesture could be growing the local community and allowing everybody a chance to be active and contribute. Community involvement builds relationships, purpose and confidence, and offers another foundation of support. The individual and community can thrive by themselves when given the right tools. 

Spread the message with Dignity in Care

Dignity in Care is a nationwide campaign organised by the National Dignity Council. Its mission is to promote the importance of dignity in the care sector by inspiring change and emphasising the need to improve quality of care. In addition to supporting the wellbeing of people who receive care, the campaign also highlights the need for respectful treatment of health professionals and the power community involvement can have in achieving change. 

To help raise awareness of the cause and uphold care standards, Dignity in Care recruit Dignity Champions who pledge to follow the ‘10 Dignity Do’s’. Each year at the beginning of February, the National Dignity Council host Dignity Action Day to encourage more people to get involved and provide memorable experiences for people who require care. 

Dignity Champions

Those who are passionate about dignity in care and wish to show support can become a Dignity Champion. Over 100,000 people have pledged to challenge poor care and act as good role models, including health and social care managers, frontline staff, MPs, councillors, people from voluntary organisations and members of the public. Champions do this by following specific guidelines created by the campaign to educate and inform others. 

There are several responsibilities a Dignity Champion can take on depending on levels of knowledge and influence, and the type of work the individual does. This could involve standing up to disrespectful behaviour, speaking up about the benefits of dignity in care, educating colleagues or listening to the views and experiences of citizens. No matter how small an action is, advocating for dignity can make a big impact on people’s lives. 

Anyone can register as a Dignity Champion but you must pledge to uphold the 10 qualities found here. 

Using CareDocs

CareDocs is packed with person-centred care features that can assist you in providing a dignified service. Quality care for any resident starts with producing a care plan that’s person-centred and based on individual circumstances with input from all parties. CareDocs enables care workers to easily create and maintain unique digital care plans following a thorough care assessment. Our care plans are made up of dozens of sections to cater for all aspects of daily care.  

When logging a Daily Note, you can also record the resident’s mood in our Emotion Mapping tool. Keeping a log of emotional responses to events is an effective way of monitoring behaviours and learning personal preferences. You also have the ability to store likes and dislikes in a resident’s dedicated Choice page to make informed choices about their care. Having this information written down and easily accessible means the resident doesn’t have to repeat themselves. By utilising the full potential of the system you won’t have to look far to find the information you need.   

For more features that allow you to add highly personalised information to the system, also check our digital Forms, Resident Files and Policies and Procedures 

For more information about how CareDocs can support person-centred care throughout your business, call us on 0330 056 3333, email us at sales@caredocs.co.uk or book a free demo. 

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Originally published on February 8, 2022
Article updated on June 1, 2023

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