Kontakt 2007, 9(1):65-69 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2007.008

Respecting of autonomy in taking long-term care of seniorsNursing

Radka Bužgová

Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, Ústav ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta

The article deals with an important ethical principle in taking the health and social care of seniors: respecting of the autonomy. The purpose of the work presented here is to point out the endangerment of seniors in different areas of their lives and possibilities of supporting their autonomous behaviour by members of health and social services. In the first part of the article, the concept of the autonomy and the ethical principle of respecting the autonomy are explained. The concept of the autonomy is frequently combined with the self-respect, dignity and participation. The following two components of the autonomy are recognized: "autonomous decisions" and "autonomous actions". The autonomy is frequently endangered in old age. With the attenuation of the physical and mental strength, the client is frequently limited, either in his/her capability of making a valid decision or in his/her capability of implementing the decision, or in both respects. The capability of the autonomous behaviour is affected by external and internal factors. The internal factors are associated with the reduction in physical and mental functions in elderly people and external factors are associated with the environment, which is the senior living in. In old age, the self-reliance is frequently either restricted or lost. However, the autonomy and loss of the self-reliance do not exclude one another. In the article, the authors Pichaud and Thareau are quoted, who deal with the relationship between the self-reliance and autonomy. They consider the proportion of the participation of the assisting person in helping the other person, depending on the extent of his/her mental dependence. In spite of attempts of specialists to support and save the autonomy of seniors at least to a certain extent, there is a certain population of clients, who are not capable of the autonomous behaviour at all. The article also mentions an ethical discussion concerning respecting of formerly expressed desires of patients (advance directives). The conclusion of the article comprises autonomous principles of handling with the client, which should be adhered to in taking care of seniors. These principles were adopted from foreign authors Collopa and Nalepp.

Keywords: Autonomy; seniors; health care; social care

Received: November 3, 2006; Accepted: April 9, 2007; Published: June 15, 2007  Show citation