At the risk of sounding blunt: my clients come first. I understand and respect the struggles that family members and friends go through, especially those who also provide caregiving when workers are unavailable, and I will always do my best to make decisions and act in a way that gives consideration for where everyone involved is at. That being said, my priority is my client and how I work reflects that.
It’s not my job to force my clients to do things they do not want to do. Bathing, oral care, eating, these are all very important facets of physical health, but I believe wholeheartedly in autonomy. My clients have the right to tell me no and I do not have the authority to override that. I also do not feel comfortable when family members force their loved one to do something they don’t want to do, especially if this leads to emotional distress. There are ways to address physical needs without compromising someone’s ability to refuse “natural” ways, and I would be more than happy to help facilitate in a meeting with a nurse, an ombudsman, or another care provider to determine how to handle situations like this.
I would also like to be very clear that I am not a nurse. I have prior work experience that lends to my ability to keep an eye out for and detect certain problems early on, but I cannot possibly give sound medical advice nor do I ever intend to. Any concerns I bring up about physical or emotional health are solely based on personal and past work experience, not necessarily on related higher education. In this same vein, whether or not it feels necessary or relevant to address an event with a nurse or doctor, I will always mention anything that I feel deserves attention. Again—I’m not a nurse, I don’t feel qualified to determine whether or not something is important. I understand the fear that something may be seen as neglectful care, but I would much rather be told by a professional that it’s nothing to worry about than to risk a bigger problem by “hiding” something.
Lexan Talbot 