Legal and spiritual aspects
Social worker’s role and legal aspects in residential aged care
The legal vulnerability of the old people is evident in the enrolment in aged-care facilities due to the knowledge required on the legal issues. The displacement from one place to another is stressful and requires a lot of effort before settling the aged people. Also, old people tend to have difficulties in exercising their rights when exposed to residential life.
Residents and providers of the residential services sign several contracts as well as agreement pacts before moving to a residential aged care facility is approved. The agreements and arrangements to be signed are always based on terms that depend on several factors that include the available information and advice required concerning the contracts. Information to be relied on is obtained from well-informed intermediaries, and these could consist of social workers and legal practitioners.
Information and advice obtained from legal practitioners, ACAT staff, or allied health staff might not be accurate, and therefore social workers remain as the most reliable and knowledgeable source of advice. The social workers are always in possession of legal knowledge and play an essential role in providing relevant information concerning the contract terms.
Importance of Spirituality
The treatment process involves several judgments based on value and the general awareness created is that everything is worth a particular value. The values held by an individual are greatly affected by religion and spirituality. The spirituality or the faith of an individual should not be used as an excuse for unfair treatment. The consequences of religious discrimination are severe and present severe impacts just like any other form of discrimination.
The Chaplain Service
The role of the Chaplain is to assist individual residents, their families, as well as friends in times of need regardless of their spiritual beliefs. Some of the specific tasks offered by the chaplain include dealing with grief and worry. The chaplain can also assist individuals affected by ethical issues. When loneliness creeps in, individuals tend to have the problems with their faith and beliefs and the chaplain is in a position to help them. The chaplain also can help individuals who are over-thinking concerning life and values as well as offering bereavement care. Finally, the chaplain is in a position to refer residents to other specialized services such as counseling.