Lesson 3- Respecting a Client’s Privacy and Independence
Privacy
One way to be sensitive to a client is to honor his/her privacy when you perform any personal care. Always:
Supporting other forms of privacy
Everyone needs private time to think and deal with problems, losses, or simply to enjoy a quiet moment.
Support a client’s independence
Anything that helps a client maintain mobility, social connections, and feelings of
self-worth, can be physically and emotionally therapeutic. Find ways to support the client’s independence as much as possible, including:
Honoring Differences
Each person is a unique and worthwhile individual. This uniqueness comes from a lifetime of experiences influenced by such things as his/her:
All of these factors combine and influence:
Bias
Your reactions and feelings towards others - especially those different from what you consider “normal” - happen automatically based on beliefs and values learned from your own upbringing (culture). Hidden biases can influence how you talk, look at, and do things for a client.
It is important to be aware of and question how your beliefs and values impact your dealings with others. Differences are neither good nor bad. It is how you react to them that is the key.
Stay alert for signs that unquestioned biases are impacting your actions with a
client, including:
Getting to know a client
When another person is viewed as different, we tend to stress the differences and overlook the similarities. Differences can also create bridges and other worlds to explore.
Get to know your client as a unique individual. A genuine effort to learn about and understand another person with an open mind goes a long way towards building trust and respect. It will also have a real impact towards making a client feel appreciated and accepted.
Getting to know a client also tells you what he/she considers respectful and appropriate behavior. This helps you avoid unintentionally
offending a client or other misunderstandings - especially when you first begin working together.
To learn more about your client, ask questions of other care team members and pay attention to any clues from how he/she acts, dresses, relates to others, and/or items of importance displayed in his/her room or home.
You can also ask questions of the client directly. Be aware that a client may have a different view of what types of questions are respectful and appropriate.
One way to be sensitive to a client is to honor his/her privacy when you perform any personal care. Always:
- Close windows, curtains, and doors;
- Knock before entering a room with a closed door;
- Keep the client’s body covered;
- Provide privacy for a client to do as much self-care as possible.
Supporting other forms of privacy
Everyone needs private time to think and deal with problems, losses, or simply to enjoy a quiet moment.
- Respect a client’s need to get away. Be sensitive to a client’s emotional need for privacy or quiet solitude.
- Make sure the client has privacy when visiting or talking on the phone with family and friends or reading his/her mail.
Support a client’s independence
Anything that helps a client maintain mobility, social connections, and feelings of
self-worth, can be physically and emotionally therapeutic. Find ways to support the client’s independence as much as possible, including:
- Allowing the client a chance to do things him/herself as much as possible.
- Being patient. Do not rush or let getting your “work done” take priority over supporting a client’s independence.
- Encouraging the client to make little steps so he/she doesn’t get discouraged.
- Providing plenty of encouragement and positive feedback.
- Encouraging the use of any assistive device(s).
Honoring Differences
Each person is a unique and worthwhile individual. This uniqueness comes from a lifetime of experiences influenced by such things as his/her:
- Cultural background;
- Religious upbringing and beliefs;
- Gender;
- Sexual orientation and/or marital status;
- Economic status;
- Social groups;
- Physical, mental, and/or sensory disability.
All of these factors combine and influence:
- How a person sees the world;
- What he/she believes in and values;
- What he/she considers acceptable ways to look and act;
- What he/she considers “normal”.
Bias
Your reactions and feelings towards others - especially those different from what you consider “normal” - happen automatically based on beliefs and values learned from your own upbringing (culture). Hidden biases can influence how you talk, look at, and do things for a client.
It is important to be aware of and question how your beliefs and values impact your dealings with others. Differences are neither good nor bad. It is how you react to them that is the key.
Stay alert for signs that unquestioned biases are impacting your actions with a
client, including:
- Negative judgments about a client’s choices, life-style, etc.;
- Viewing a client’s cultural preferences as unimportant;
- Being impatient or not open-minded about a client’s needs;
- Making jokes or fun of a client.
Getting to know a client
When another person is viewed as different, we tend to stress the differences and overlook the similarities. Differences can also create bridges and other worlds to explore.
Get to know your client as a unique individual. A genuine effort to learn about and understand another person with an open mind goes a long way towards building trust and respect. It will also have a real impact towards making a client feel appreciated and accepted.
Getting to know a client also tells you what he/she considers respectful and appropriate behavior. This helps you avoid unintentionally
offending a client or other misunderstandings - especially when you first begin working together.
To learn more about your client, ask questions of other care team members and pay attention to any clues from how he/she acts, dresses, relates to others, and/or items of importance displayed in his/her room or home.
You can also ask questions of the client directly. Be aware that a client may have a different view of what types of questions are respectful and appropriate.