Ethical Issues in Caring for Older People
: Suhonen, Riitta; Stolt, Minna
: P. Anne Scott, Shane M. Scott
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
: 2024
: Key Concepts and Issues in Nursing Ethics
: 195
: 207
: 978-3-031-54107-0
: 978-3-031-54108-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54108-7_13(external)
: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54108-7_13(external)
Ethics is a fundamental part of nursing care in all care settings. Ethical issues are prevalent in the provision of nursing care to older people, as growing old may bring several health issues, vulnerability, dependence, and frailty. Such issues bring special requirements of nurses and other healthcare professionals, including sensitivity to ethical issues, reflection on one’s knowledge and actions, and the ability to carefully manage ethically challenging situations in the provision of nursing care. The type of ethical issues professionals face while caring for older individuals include how to maintain the autonomy, self-determination, and dignity of the older person. Older individuals also face ethical issues while seeking care or being cared for, including how to maintain their own autonomy and dignity, how to enable shared decision-making, and how to ensure one’s wishes are heard and respected. Individuals of all ages have the right to be cared for in a dignified manner, but it is especially important when growing old and having lived a long life across different decades and circumstances. The ethical issues in the care of older people are multifaceted. Fundamental patient rights must be respected and cherished in all nursing care circumstances, and knowledge of these can be increased. This chapter raises current and future ethical issues and challenges in the nursing care of older people, with particular focus on the context of home care and long-term care settings.