A good approach is a prerequisite for participation and self-determination for the individual elderly person. Therefore, it is important that the care staff give elderly people support so that they themselves can decide on their daily lives and be involved in how the support and help is given.

The work of social services should be based on respect for the individual's right to self-determination and integrity. This means that the measures carried out by social services should both be planned and implemented together with the individual.

Participation

Participation and influence in society are a fundamental prerequisite for public health. It is important that individuals feel that they have the opportunity to influence their own living conditions and the development of society. Otherwise, there is a risk of exclusion and feelings of powerlessness. The ability to have influence and be able to influence their own living conditions and the development of society is clearly related to health.
Employees in care can in various ways contribute to facilitating participation and self-determination for older people. This can, for example, involve:
- Providing support to the elderly person in maintaining their independence, for example by applying a function-preserving and rehabilitative approach.
- Working in a way that ensures that the older person can influence the content of decisions on aid and how the measures are implemented.
- Working in a way that ensures that the help and support are adapted to the individual's needs, conditions and wishes.
- Having an attitude that invites the individual to express their opinions and wishes.
The relative perspective means that the family or other people who are important to the elderly person are made visible and – when possible – involved in the care and care of the elderly person. This also means that the operations see, respect and cooperate with both the individual and the people who are important to him or her.

Communication

For elderly people to become involved and be able to influence, it is important that communication works between the individual and those who work in elderly care. One way to achieve effective communication is to adapt it based on the conditions and needs of the elderly and talk in a language they understand. As far as possible, the efforts should be designed and implemented in cooperation with the individual.

National value base

The national value base for elderly care is based on specific provisions in the Social Services Act, Sol. The provisions mean, among other things, that social services' care for the elderly should be aimed at elderly people living a dignified life and feeling well-being. Security is an important part of well-being. Important prerequisites for feeling security are having control over their situation and the opportunity to make themselves understood and understand their environment. Another aspect of well-being is that the elderly person feels meaningfulness in existence. This can, for example, be about the care staff supporting the elderly person in maintaining contacts and community with relatives and friends, taking a walk or training different abilities. The provisions in the Social Services Act also mean that elderly care should protect and respect everyone's right to privacy and bodily integrity, self-determination, participation and individual adjustment.

Support the will of older people

Many elderly people in need of care have impaired decision-making ability. The National Board of Health and Welfare has developed a material that provides advice on how to support elderly people with impaired decision-making ability to express their will. The material is aimed at people who work with support and care for the elderly, both as performers and as administrators.

Implementation plan

How a granted measure to an elderly person, for example home help, should be implemented should be documented in an implementation plan. The implementation plan should be designed together with the individual and relatives or next of kin. The purpose of the implementation plan is to create a clear structure for the implementation and follow-up of a decided measure. The plan clarifies both for the individual and the staff what is to be done, who is to do what, when and how.

Treatment

One way for the staff to provide a good treatment is to be attentive and empathetic in the meeting with the individual and respect their integrity. It is also important that the operations are organized so that the staff have enough time to listen to and talk to him or her. The staff should also consider that the elderly person is in a dependent position and work to make the treatment feel respectful.
It is important that there are good conditions within the care to be able to meet older homosexuals, bisexuals, trans and queer people, often called LGBTQ people. The deficiencies in treatment that occur may be due to lack of knowledge. Training of staff is one way to increase knowledge about older LGBTQ people, for example discussions at workplace meetings and further education.

Discrimination

It is not allowed to discriminate a person on the grounds of gender, ethnic affiliation, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age. The Discrimination Act contains specific provisions on the prohibition of discrimination in health and medical care and activities within social services.

Violence against the elderly

Both elderly men and women are subjected to violence. This can, for example, be about violence in close relationships, by employees in health and care, by neighbors in special housing and by participants in day-to-day activities. Women are not only exposed to violence because they are older, but also specifically because they are women. It is almost exclusively women who are subjected to sexual violence and the violence against them is to a greater extent repeated.

Reflections - Participation and treatment
Care staff:
- Do you live according to the national value base in your work in your department?
- Do you discuss the value base regularly?

Manager, nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapist:
- How do you work to lift the value base work in the business?
- Do the employees know about the value base?
- Do they work from the value base?

Resident and relative:
- Do you feel that the employees are working according to the national value base?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day